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EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex321_20150331315.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex312_20150331314.htm
EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex322_20150331316.htm
EX-10.1 - EX-10.1 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex101_20150331348.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex311_20150331313.htm
EX-10.2 - EX-10.2 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex102_20150331349.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - SITE Centers Corp.Financial_Report.xls
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - SITE Centers Corp.ddr-ex103_20150331350.htm

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015

OR

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                  

Commission file number 1-11690

 

DDR Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Ohio

 

34-1723097

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

3300 Enterprise Parkway, Beachwood, Ohio 44122

(Address of principal executive offices - zip code)

(216) 755-5500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of May 1, 2015, the registrant had 361,044,585 outstanding common shares, $0.10 par value per share.

 

 

 

 


PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

1


DDR Corp.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land

$

2,195,039

 

 

$

2,208,468

 

Buildings

 

6,933,849

 

 

 

7,087,040

 

Fixtures and tenant improvements

 

643,222

 

 

 

645,035

 

 

 

9,772,110

 

 

 

9,940,543

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(1,943,284

)

 

 

(1,909,585

)

 

 

7,828,826

 

 

 

8,030,958

 

Land held for development and construction in progress

 

275,305

 

 

 

395,242

 

Total real estate assets, net

 

8,104,131

 

 

 

8,426,200

 

Investments in and advances to joint ventures

 

410,340

 

 

 

414,848

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

55,993

 

 

 

20,937

 

Restricted cash

 

8,152

 

 

 

11,375

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

133,463

 

 

 

132,661

 

Notes receivable, net

 

47,184

 

 

 

56,245

 

Deferred charges, less accumulated amortization of $38,667 and $38,796, respectively

 

27,879

 

 

 

28,187

 

Other assets, net

 

423,968

 

 

 

451,442

 

 

$

9,211,110

 

 

$

9,541,895

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured indebtedness:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior notes

$

3,265,294

 

 

$

2,765,893

 

Unsecured term loan

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

Revolving credit facilities

 

6,327

 

 

 

29,009

 

 

 

3,271,621

 

 

 

3,144,902

 

Secured indebtedness:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured term loan

 

300,000

 

 

 

400,000

 

Mortgage indebtedness

 

1,675,464

 

 

 

1,689,805

 

 

 

1,975,464

 

 

 

2,089,805

 

Total indebtedness

 

5,247,085

 

 

 

5,234,707

 

Accounts payable and other liabilities

 

402,978

 

 

 

448,192

 

Dividends payable

 

67,865

 

 

 

61,468

 

Total liabilities

 

5,717,928

 

 

 

5,744,367

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DDR Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class J—6.5% cumulative redeemable preferred shares, without par value, $500 liquidation value;

   750,000 shares authorized; 400,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and

   December 31, 2014

 

200,000

 

 

 

200,000

 

Class K—6.25% cumulative redeemable preferred shares, without par value, $500 liquidation value;

   750,000 shares authorized; 300,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and

   December 31, 2014

 

150,000

 

 

 

150,000

 

Common shares, with par value, $0.10 stated value; 600,000,000 shares authorized; 361,082,421 and

   360,711,232 shares issued at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

 

36,108

 

 

 

36,071

 

Paid-in capital

 

5,445,387

 

 

 

5,438,778

 

Accumulated distributions in excess of net income

 

(2,358,864

)

 

 

(2,047,212

)

Deferred compensation obligation

 

17,001

 

 

 

16,609

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(6,689

)

 

 

(7,352

)

Less: Common shares in treasury at cost: 1,024,851 and 957,068 shares at March 31, 2015 and

   December 31, 2014, respectively

 

(16,910

)

 

 

(16,646

)

Total DDR shareholders' equity

 

3,466,033

 

 

 

3,770,248

 

Non-controlling interests

 

27,149

 

 

 

27,280

 

Total equity

 

3,493,182

 

 

 

3,797,528

 

 

$

9,211,110

 

 

$

9,541,895

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.  

 

 

 

2


DDR Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31,

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Revenues from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum rents

$

180,697

 

 

$

166,187

 

Percentage and overage rents

 

1,385

 

 

 

1,641

 

Recoveries from tenants

 

64,080

 

 

 

57,800

 

Fee and other income

 

12,663

 

 

 

15,884

 

 

 

258,825

 

 

 

241,512

 

Rental operation expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating and maintenance

 

38,726

 

 

 

36,587

 

Real estate taxes

 

37,629

 

 

 

33,976

 

Impairment charges

 

279,021

 

 

 

2,329

 

General and administrative

 

18,595

 

 

 

20,253

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

103,015

 

 

 

103,619

 

 

 

476,986

 

 

 

196,764

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

7,161

 

 

 

3,127

 

Interest expense

 

(63,020

)

 

 

(59,698

)

Other income (expense), net

 

(3,428

)

 

 

(4,183

)

 

 

(59,287

)

 

 

(60,754

)

Loss before earnings from equity method investments and other items

 

(277,448

)

 

 

(16,006

)

Equity in net income of joint ventures

 

61

 

 

 

5,490

 

Impairment of joint venture investments

 

 

 

 

(9,100

)

Gain on change in control of interests

 

14,279

 

 

 

 

Loss before tax expense of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes

 

(263,108

)

 

 

(19,616

)

Tax expense of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes

 

(4,900

)

 

 

(684

)

Loss from continuing operations

 

(268,008

)

 

 

(20,300

)

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

3,012

 

Loss before gain (loss) on disposition of real estate

 

(268,008

)

 

 

(17,288

)

Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax

 

25,094

 

 

 

(1,090

)

Net loss

$

(242,914

)

 

$

(18,378

)

(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, net

 

(873

)

 

 

1,738

 

Net loss attributable to DDR

$

(243,787

)

 

$

(16,640

)

Preferred dividends

 

(5,594

)

 

 

(6,608

)

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(249,381

)

 

$

(23,248

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.08

)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.07

)

Diluted earnings per share data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.08

)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.07

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.  

 

3


DDR Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31,

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Net loss

$

(242,914

)

 

$

(18,378

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

 

(304

)

 

 

5,906

 

Change in fair value of interest-rate contracts

 

(97

)

 

 

(239

)

Change in cash flow hedges reclassed to earnings

 

675

 

 

 

118

 

Reclassification adjustment for realized gains on available-for-sale securities included in net

   loss

 

 

 

 

(430

)

Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

(261

)

Total other comprehensive income

 

274

 

 

 

5,094

 

Comprehensive loss

$

(242,640

)

 

$

(13,284

)

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of net (income) loss

 

(873

)

 

 

1,738

 

Foreign currency translation

 

389

 

 

 

363

 

Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(484

)

 

 

2,101

 

Total comprehensive loss attributable to DDR

$

(243,124

)

 

$

(11,183

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.  

 

 

 

4


DDR Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

DDR Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Shares

 

 

Common Shares

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Accumulated Distributions

in Excess of

Net Income

 

 

Deferred Compensation Obligation

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

 

Treasury

Stock at

Cost

 

 

Non-

Controlling

Interests

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

$

350,000

 

 

$

36,071

 

 

$

5,438,778

 

 

$

(2,047,212

)

 

$

16,609

 

 

$

(7,352

)

 

$

(16,646

)

 

$

27,280

 

 

$

3,797,528

 

Issuance of common shares related

   to stock plans

 

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

5,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,543

 

Issuance of restricted stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,919

)

 

 

 

 

 

160

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting of restricted stock

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

3,402

 

 

 

 

 

 

232

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,066

)

 

 

 

 

 

574

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

657

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

657

 

Distributions to non-controlling

   interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(615

)

 

 

(615

)

Dividends declared-common shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(62,271

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(62,271

)

Dividends declared-preferred shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,594

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,594

)

Comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(243,787

)

 

 

 

 

 

663

 

 

 

 

 

 

484

 

 

 

(242,640

)

Balance, March 31, 2015

$

350,000

 

 

$

36,108

 

 

$

5,445,387

 

 

$

(2,358,864

)

 

$

17,001

 

 

$

(6,689

)

 

$

(16,910

)

 

$

27,149

 

 

$

3,493,182

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.  

 

 

5


DDR Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31,

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Cash flow from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(242,914

)

 

$

(18,378

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flow provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

103,015

 

 

 

109,297

 

Stock-based compensation

 

2,177

 

 

 

1,888

 

Amortization and write-off of deferred finance costs

 

4,948

 

 

 

3,197

 

Accretion of convertible debt discount

 

2,940

 

 

 

2,788

 

Equity in net income of joint ventures

 

(61

)

 

 

(5,490

)

Impairment of joint venture investments

 

 

 

 

9,100

 

Gain on change in control of interests

 

(14,279

)

 

 

 

Operating cash distributions from joint ventures

 

2,003

 

 

 

1,716

 

Realized gain on sale of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

(430

)

Gain on disposition of real estate

 

(25,094

)

 

 

(9,605

)

Impairment charges

 

279,021

 

 

 

10,841

 

Change in notes receivable accrued interest

 

(2,347

)

 

 

(1,044

)

Change in restricted cash

 

2,102

 

 

 

1,634

 

Net change in accounts receivable

 

(4,584

)

 

 

9,740

 

Net change in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

(14,680

)

 

 

(477

)

Net change in other operating assets and liabilities

 

(29,546

)

 

 

(22,886

)

Total adjustments

 

305,615

 

 

 

110,269

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities

 

62,701

 

 

 

91,891

 

Cash flow from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate acquired, net of liabilities and cash assumed

 

 

 

 

(1,000

)

Real estate developed and improvements to operating real estate

 

(59,281

)

 

 

(46,048

)

Proceeds from disposition of real estate and joint venture interests

 

102,909

 

 

 

128,947

 

Equity contributions to joint ventures

 

(75

)

 

 

(876

)

Distributions of proceeds from sale and refinancing of joint venture interests

 

2,160

 

 

 

5,306

 

Return of investments in joint ventures

 

1,411

 

 

 

2,830

 

Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

880

 

Repayment of notes receivable

 

9,155

 

 

 

112

 

Change in restricted cash capital improvements

 

1,320

 

 

 

1,704

 

Net cash flow provided by investing activities

 

57,599

 

 

 

91,855

 

Cash flow from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayments of revolving credit facilities, net

 

(21,494

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of underwriting commissions and offering expenses

 

491,972

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from mortgages and other secured debt

 

 

 

 

1,379

 

Repayment of term loans and mortgage debt

 

(492,076

)

 

 

(49,932

)

Repurchase of common shares in conjunction with equity award plans

 

2,734

 

 

 

(2,595

)

Contributions from non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

93

 

Distributions to non-controlling interests and redeemable operating partnership units

 

(5,070

)

 

 

(415

)

Dividends paid

 

(61,468

)

 

 

(55,107

)

Net cash flow used for financing activities

 

(85,402

)

 

 

(106,577

)

Cash and cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

34,898

 

 

 

77,169

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

158

 

 

 

2

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

 

20,937

 

 

 

86,664

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

55,993

 

 

$

163,835

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.  

 

 

 

6


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

1.

Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation

Nature of Business

DDR Corp. and its related consolidated real estate subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “DDR”) and unconsolidated joint ventures are primarily engaged in the business of acquiring, owning, developing, redeveloping, expanding, leasing and managing shopping centers.  In addition, the Company engages in the origination and acquisition of loans and debt securities, which are generally collateralized directly or indirectly by shopping centers.  Unless otherwise provided, references herein to the Company or DDR include DDR Corp., its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and its consolidated joint ventures.  The Company’s tenant base primarily includes national and regional retail chains and local retailers.  Consequently, the Company’s credit risk is concentrated in the retail industry.  

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  

 

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

These financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods presented. The results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and all entities in which the Company has a controlling interest or has been determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity.  All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  Investments in real estate joint ventures and companies in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have financial or operating control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.  Accordingly, the Company’s share of the earnings (or loss) of these joint ventures and companies is included in consolidated net income.  

Deferred Tax Assets and Tax Liabilities – Puerto Rico Tax Restructuring

In the first quarter of 2015, in accordance with temporary legislation of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, the Company restructured the ownership of its 15 assets in Puerto Rico and made a voluntary election to prepay $20.2 million of taxes related to the built-in gains associated with the real estate assets.  This election permitted the Company to step-up its tax basis in the Puerto Rican assets to the current estimated fair value while reducing its effective capital gains tax rate from 29% to 12%.  Further, the Company converted the ownership to a Puerto Rico Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) structure, which reduced the effective tax on the operational activity from 39% to 10%.  The net balance sheet impact to the financial statements related to the restructuring is $16.8 million. The Company recorded a tax expense of $3.4 million related to the 2% effective tax rate spread between the 12% tax payment and the revalued deferred tax asset under the REIT structure using a 10% effective tax rate.

7


Statements of Cash Flows and Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information

Non-cash investing and financing activities are summarized as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Mortgages assumed from acquisitions

$

33.7

 

 

$

 

Elimination of the previously held equity interest in unconsolidated joint ventures

   acquired

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable related to construction in progress

 

27.3

 

 

 

18.3

 

Dividends declared

 

67.9

 

 

 

62.3

 

Fee and Other Income

Fee and other income was composed of the following (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Management and other fee income

$

8.1

 

 

$

8.2

 

Ancillary and other property income

 

4.2

 

 

 

6.2

 

Lease termination fees

 

0.2

 

 

 

1.3

 

Other

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

Total fee and other income

$

12.7

 

 

$

15.9

 

New Accounting Standards Adopted

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 (“ASU 2014-08”), Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, a final standard that changed the criteria for determining which disposals are presented as discontinued operations.  The revised definition of a discontinued operation is “a component or group of components that has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale, together as a group in a single transaction,” and “represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s financial results.”  The FASB agreed that a strategic shift includes “a disposal of (i) a separate major line of business, (ii) a separate major geographical area of operations or (iii) a combination of parts of (i) or (ii) that make up a major part of an entity’s operations and financial results.”  A business that, upon acquisition, qualifies as held for sale will also be a discontinued operation.  The FASB also reaffirmed its decision to no longer preclude presentation of a disposal as a discontinued operation if (a) there is significant continuing involvement with a component after its disposal, or (b) there are operations and cash flows of the component that have not been eliminated from the reporting entity’s ongoing operations.  Public entities are required to apply the standard in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods.  The Company adopted the standard effective January 1, 2015, and there was no impact to net income in the current period financial statements.  Properties sold prior to January 1, 2015, are not subject to ASU 2014-08 and therefore continue to be classified as discontinued operations using the previous definition.  The adoption resulted in most individual property disposals not qualifying for discontinued operations presentation and thus, the results of those disposals remain in Income from Continuing Operations and any associated gains or losses are included in Gain on Disposition of Real Estate.  

New Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive five-step model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance.  The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the scope of other topics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.  Most significantly for the real estate industry, leasing transactions are not within the scope of the new standard.  A majority of the Company’s tenant-related revenue is recognized pursuant to lease agreements.  The new guidance is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning

8


after December 15, 2016.  Early adoption is not permitted.  Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified approach to adopt ASU 2014-09.  The Company is assessing the impact, if any, the adoption of this standard will have on its financial statements and has not decided upon the method of adoption.

Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03 (“ASU 2015-03”), Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount.  The guidance in ASU 2015-03 is limited to the presentation of debt issuance costs.  The new guidance is effective for public companies for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years on a retrospective basis.  The Company does not believe ASU 2015-03 will have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

2.

Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had ownership interests in various unconsolidated joint ventures that had an investment in 187 and 188 shopping center properties, respectively.  Condensed combined financial information of the Company’s unconsolidated joint venture investments is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

Condensed Combined Balance Sheets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land

$

1,359,918

 

 

$

1,439,849

 

Buildings

 

3,589,210

 

 

 

3,854,585

 

Fixtures and tenant improvements

 

180,389

 

 

 

200,696

 

 

 

5,129,517

 

 

 

5,495,130

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

(736,867

)

 

 

(773,256

)

 

 

4,392,650

 

 

 

4,721,874

 

Land held for development and construction in progress

 

53,597

 

 

 

55,698

 

Real estate, net

 

4,446,247

 

 

 

4,777,572

 

Cash and restricted cash

 

82,012

 

 

 

100,812

 

Receivables, net

 

47,767

 

 

 

80,508

 

Other assets

 

373,758

 

 

 

394,751

 

 

$

4,949,784

 

 

$

5,353,643

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage debt

$

3,282,124

 

 

$

3,552,764

 

Notes and accrued interest payable to the Company

 

3,077

 

 

 

144,831

 

Other liabilities

 

202,378

 

 

 

276,998

 

 

 

3,487,579

 

 

 

3,974,593

 

Redeemable preferred equity

 

307,563

 

 

 

305,310

 

Accumulated equity

 

1,154,642

 

 

 

1,073,740

 

 

$

4,949,784

 

 

$

5,353,643

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company's share of accumulated equity

$

139,275

 

 

$

122,937

 

Redeemable preferred equity

 

307,563

 

 

 

305,310

 

Basis differentials

 

(37,122

)

 

 

(12,954

)

Deferred development fees, net of portion related to the Company's interest

 

(2,453

)

 

 

(2,562

)

Amounts payable to the Company

 

3,077

 

 

 

2,117

 

Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures

$

410,340

 

 

$

414,848

 

 

9


 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Condensed Combined Statements of Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues from operations

$

137,600

 

 

$

136,501

 

Expenses from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

50,982

 

 

 

47,807

 

Impairment charges

 

448

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

56,737

 

 

 

41,214

 

Interest expense

 

40,903

 

 

 

50,058

 

Other (income) expense, net

 

367

 

 

 

3,043

 

 

 

149,437

 

 

 

142,122

 

Loss before tax expense and discontinued operations

 

(11,837

)

 

 

(5,621

)

Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net

 

 

 

 

(4,140

)

Loss from continuing operations

 

(11,837

)

 

 

(9,761

)

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

 

(2,490

)

Gain on disposition of real estate, net of tax

 

 

 

21,473

 

(Loss) income before gain on disposition of real estate, net

 

(11,837

)

 

 

9,222

 

Loss on disposition of real estate, net

 

(213

)

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

$

(12,050

)

 

$

9,222

 

Income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(1,488

)

Net (loss) income attributable to unconsolidated joint ventures

$

(12,050

)

 

$

7,734

 

Company's share of equity in net (loss) income of joint ventures(A)

$

(247

)

 

$

4,731

 

Basis differential adjustments(B)

 

308

 

 

 

759

 

Equity in net income of joint ventures(A)

$

61

 

 

$

5,490

 

(A)

The Company did not record income or loss from those investments in which its investment basis was zero as the Company did not have the intent or obligation to fund any additional capital in the joint ventures (Note 9).  

(B)

The difference between the Company’s share of net income, as reported above, and the amounts included in the consolidated statements of operations is attributable to the amortization of basis differentials, the recognition of deferred gains and differences in gain (loss) on sale of certain assets recognized due to the basis differentials and other than temporary impairment charges.  

Service fees and income earned by the Company through management, financing, leasing and development activities performed related to all of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures are as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Management and other fees

$

6.3

 

 

$

6.1

 

Development fees and leasing commissions

 

1.6

 

 

 

2.0

 

Interest income

 

6.3

 

 

 

1.7

 

The Company’s joint venture agreements generally include provisions whereby each partner has the right to trigger a purchase or sale of its interest in the joint venture (Reciprocal Purchase Rights) or to initiate a purchase or sale of the properties (Property Purchase Rights) after a certain number of years or if either party is in default of the joint venture agreements.  The Company is not obligated to purchase the interests of its outside joint venture partners under these provisions.  

Coventry II Fund

 

Coventry Real Estate Advisors L.L.C. (“CREA”) formed Coventry Real Estate Fund II, L.L.C. and Coventry Fund II Parallel Fund, L.L.C. (collectively, the “Coventry II Fund”).  The Coventry II Fund was formed with several institutional investors and CREA as the investment manager. The Company and the Coventry II Fund entered into various joint ventures to invest in a variety of retail properties that presented opportunities for value creation.  In March 2015, the Company, CREA and the Coventry II Fund finalized a settlement agreement in which the Company acquired Coventry II Fund’s 80% interest in Buena Park Place in Orange County, California (Note 3) and the Company transferred to Coventry II Fund its 20% ownership interest in 21 of the remaining 22 assets of the Coventry II Fund investments.  The Company accounted for this transaction as a step acquisition and as a result, recorded a Gain on Change in Control of $14.3 million related to the difference between the carrying value of its equity investment and the fair value of the asset acquired.  See discussion of legal matters regarding the Coventry II Fund (Note 9).

 

10


3.

Acquisitions

In March 2015, the Company acquired its joint venture partner’s 80% interest in one shopping center in Orange County, California valued at $49.2 million (Note 2).  The fair value of the acquisition was allocated as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

Amortization Period

(in Years)

Land

$

27,268

 

 

N/A

Buildings

 

21,086

 

 

(A)

Tenant improvements

 

204

 

 

(A)

In-place leases (including lease origination costs and fair

   market value of leases)

 

2,483

 

 

6.1

Tenant relations

 

1,724

 

 

10.8

Other assets

 

277

 

 

N/A

 

 

53,042

 

 

 

Less: Mortgage debt assumed at fair value

 

(33,735

)

 

N/A

Less: Below-market leases

 

(3,526

)

 

19.4

Less: Other liabilities assumed

 

(101

)

 

N/A

Net assets acquired

$

15,680

 

 

 

(A)

Depreciated in accordance with the Company’s policy.

 

Consideration:

 

 

 

Gain on Change in Control of Interests

$

14,279

 

Carrying value of previously held equity interest

 

1,401

 

Total consideration

$

15,680

 

Pro Forma Information

The following unaudited supplemental pro forma operating data is presented for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, as if the acquisition of the interests in the properties acquired in 2015 and 2014 were completed on January 1, 2014.  The Gain on Change in Control of Interests related to the acquisitions from unconsolidated joint ventures was adjusted to the assumed acquisition date.  The unaudited supplemental pro forma operating data is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations of the Company would have been assuming the transactions had been completed as set forth above, nor do they purport to represent the Company’s results of operations for future periods (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

Three-Month Period

Ended March 31,

2014

(Unaudited)

 

Pro forma revenues

 

$

255,367

 

Pro forma loss from continuing operations

 

$

(8,478

)

Pro forma net loss attributable to common shareholders

 

$

(11,426

)

Basic earnings per share data:

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

 

$

(0.03

)

Diluted earnings per share data:

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

 

$

(0.03

)

 

 

4.

Notes Receivable

The Company has notes receivable, including accrued interest, that are collateralized by certain rights in development projects, partnership interests, sponsor guaranties and/or real estate assets, some of which are subordinate to other financings.  

11


Notes receivable consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

Loans receivable

$

46,642

 

 

$

52,444

 

Tax Increment Financing Bonds

   ("TIF Bonds") and other (A)

 

542

 

 

 

3,801

 

 

$

47,184

 

 

$

56,245

 

(A)

Principal and interest are payable solely from the incremental real estate taxes, if any, generated by the respective shopping center and development project pursuant to the terms of the financing agreement.  

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had five and six loans receivable outstanding, respectively.  The following table reconciles the loans receivable on real estate for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Balance at January 1

$

52,444

 

 

$

72,218

 

Additions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

473

 

Accretion of discount

 

240

 

 

 

227

 

Deductions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of principal and interest

 

(6,042

)

 

 

(113

)

Balance at March 31

$

46,642

 

 

$

72,805

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company had one loan outstanding aggregating $9.8 million that matured and was more than 90 days past due and one loan that was fully reserved.  The Company is no longer accruing interest income on these notes as no payments have been received.  The $9.8 million loan has a loan loss reserve of $4.8 million based on the estimated value of the underlying real estate collateral.  No other loans outstanding are past due.  

 

5.

Other Assets

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):  

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In-place leases, net

$

150,045

 

 

$

160,351

 

Above-market rent, net

 

53,721

 

 

 

57,199

 

Tenant relations, net

 

160,602

 

 

 

171,666

 

Total intangible assets, net(A)

 

364,368

 

 

 

389,216

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses

 

24,954

 

 

 

14,456

 

Other assets(B)

 

26,702

 

 

 

39,746

 

Deposits

 

7,944

 

 

 

8,024

 

Total other assets, net

$

423,968

 

 

$

451,442

 

(A)

The Company recorded amortization expense related to its intangibles, excluding above- and below- market leases, of $25.6 million and $29.1 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(B)

See discussion of deferred tax asset in Note 1.  During the first quarter of 2015, in accordance with amended legislation of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, the Company elected and paid an additional $20.2 million as part of an overall tax restructuring.  

 

 

12


6.

Revolving Credit Facilities and Term Loans

The following table discloses certain information regarding the Company’s Revolving Credit Facilities (as defined below) and term loans(in millions):

 

 

 

Carrying Value at

March 31, 2015

 

 

Weighted-Average

Interest Rate(A) at

March 31, 2015

 

 

Maturity Date

Unsecured indebtedness:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsecured Credit Facility

 

$

6.3

 

 

 

2.1%

 

 

April 2017

PNC Facility

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

April 2017

Secured indebtedness:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secured Term Loan

 

 

300.0

 

 

 

1.5%

 

 

April 2017

(A)

Interest rate on variable-rate debt calculated using the base rate and spreads in effect at March 31, 2015.  

Revolving Credit Facilities

The Company maintains an unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions, arranged by J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Unsecured Credit Facility”).  The Unsecured Credit Facility provides for borrowings of up to $750 million, if certain financial covenants are maintained, an accordion feature for expansion of availability up to $1.25 billion upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing terms of the facility and increase their commitment level (Note 15).  The Unsecured Credit Facility includes a competitive bid option on periodic interest rates for up to 50% of the facility.  The Unsecured Credit Facility also provides for an annual facility fee, which was 20 basis points on the entire facility at March 31, 2015.  The Unsecured Credit Facility also allows for certain foreign currency-denominated borrowings.  At March 31, 2015, the Company had US$6.3 million of Canadian dollar borrowings outstanding (Note 15).  

The Company also maintains a $65 million unsecured revolving credit facility with PNC Bank, National Association (the “PNC Facility” and, together with the Unsecured Credit Facility, the “Revolving Credit Facilities”).  The PNC Facility reflects terms consistent with those contained in the Unsecured Credit Facility (Note 15).  

The Company’s borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facilities bear interest at variable rates at the Company’s election, based on either (i) the prime rate plus a specified spread (0.15% at March 31, 2015), as defined in the respective facility, or (ii) LIBOR, plus a specified spread (1.15% at March 31, 2015) (Note 15).  The specified spreads vary depending on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured debt rating from Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  The Company is required to comply with certain covenants under the Revolving Credit Facilities relating to total outstanding indebtedness, secured indebtedness, maintenance of unencumbered real estate assets and fixed charge coverage. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2015.  

The Company amended the Revolving Credit Facilities and entered into an unsecured term loan in April 2015 (Note 15).

 

7.

Senior Notes

In January 2015, the Company issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due February 2025.  Net proceeds from the issuance were used to repay $350.0 million of debt under the Company’s unsecured term loan, $100.0 million of debt under the Company’s secured term loan and amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facilities.  Total fees, excluding underwriting discounts, incurred by the Company for the issuance of senior notes were $1.1 million.  As a result of the repayments on term loans, the Company incurred debt extinguishment costs of $3.3 million, which are reflected in other expense in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015.

 

 

8.

Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair value disclosures of financial instruments:

Measurement of Fair Value

At March 31, 2015, the Company used pay-fixed interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to changes in benchmark interest rates (the “Swaps”).  The estimated fair values were determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts.  The variable cash receipts are based on an expectation of interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.  In addition, credit valuation adjustments, which

13


consider the impact of any credit enhancements to the contracts, are incorporated in the fair values to account for potential non-performance risk, including the Company’s own non-performance risk and the respective counterparty's non-performance risk.  The Company determined that the significant inputs used to value its derivatives fell within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company maintains interest rate swap agreements (included in Other Liabilities) and marketable equity securities (included in Other Assets), which include investments in the Company’s elective deferred compensation plan as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets and liabilities and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine such fair value (in millions):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Assets (Liabilities):

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

$

 

 

$

(3.8

)

 

$

 

 

$

(3.8

)

Marketable Securities

 

$

3.6

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

3.6

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

$

 

 

$

(4.3

)

 

$

 

 

$

(4.3

)

Marketable Securities

 

$

3.7

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

3.7

 

Other Fair Value Instruments

Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures are considered financial assets.  See discussion of fair value considerations of joint venture investments in Note 11.  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for these financial instruments approximated fair value because of their short-term maturities.  

Notes Receivable and Advances to Affiliates

The fair value is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis in which the Company uses unobservable inputs such as market interest rates determined by the loan to value and market capitalization rates related to the underlying collateral at which management believes similar loans would be made and classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.  The fair value of these notes was approximately $359.0 million and $362.2 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, as compared to the carrying amounts of $354.7 million and $358.2 million, respectively.  The fair value of loans to affiliates has been estimated by management based upon its assessment of the interest rate, credit risk and performance risk.  

Debt

The fair market value of senior notes, except senior convertible notes, is determined using the trading price of the Company’s public debt.  The fair market value for all other debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow technique that incorporates future contractual interest and principal payments and a market interest yield curve with adjustments for duration, optionality and risk profile, including the Company’s non-performance risk and loan to value.  The Company’s senior notes, except senior convertible notes, and all other debt including senior convertible notes are classified as Level 2 and Level 3, respectively, in the fair value hierarchy.  

Considerable judgment is necessary to develop estimated fair values of financial instruments.  Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize on disposition of the financial instruments.  

Debt instruments at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, with carrying values that are different than estimated fair values, are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

Carrying

Amount

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

Carrying

Amount

 

 

Fair

Value

 

Senior Notes

$

3,265,294

 

 

$

3,523,994

 

 

$

2,765,893

 

 

$

3,011,374

 

Revolving Credit Facilities and Term Loans

 

306,327

 

 

 

308,304

 

 

 

779,009

 

 

 

786,922

 

Mortgage indebtedness

 

1,675,464

 

 

 

1,737,629

 

 

 

1,689,805

 

 

 

1,741,855

 

 

$

5,247,085

 

 

$

5,569,927

 

 

$

5,234,707

 

 

$

5,540,151

 

14


Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities.  The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its debt funding and, from time to time, through the use of derivative financial instruments.  Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the values of which are determined by interest rates.  The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s investments and borrowings.  

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to manage its exposure to interest rate movements.  To accomplish this objective, the Company generally uses Swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  The Swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.  

As of March 31, 2015, the Company had one effective Swap with a notional amount of $79.6 million, expiring in September 2017, which converts variable rate mortgage debt to a fixed rate of 2.8%.  As of December 31, 2014, the Company had nine Swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $530.0 million.  The aggregate fair value of the Swaps was a net liability of $3.8 million and $4.3 million, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, which is included in Other Assets/Other Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

All components of the Swaps were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.  The Company expects to reflect within the next 12 months, an increase to interest expense (and a corresponding decrease to earnings) of approximately $2.8 million, which includes amortization of previously settled interest rate contracts.  

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated, and that qualify, as cash flow hedges is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (“OCI”) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.  

The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to the Swaps if the derivative position has a positive balance.  The Company believes it mitigates its credit risk by entering into Swaps with major financial institutions.  The Company continually monitors and actively manages interest costs on its variable-rate debt portfolio and may enter into additional interest rate swap positions or other derivative interest rate instruments based on market conditions.  The Company has not entered, and does not plan to enter, into any derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

The Company has agreements with each of its Swap counterparties that contain a provision whereby if the Company defaults on certain of its unsecured indebtedness the Company could also be declared in default on its Swaps, resulting in an acceleration of payment under the Swaps.  

 

9.

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

Coventry II

The Company was a party to various joint ventures with the Coventry II Fund, through which 10 existing or proposed retail properties, along with a portfolio of former Service Merchandise locations, were acquired at various times from 2003 through 2006.  The Company was generally responsible for day-to-day management of the properties through December 2011.  On November 4, 2009, Coventry Real Estate Advisors L.L.C., Coventry Real Estate Fund II, L.L.C. and Coventry Fund II Parallel Fund, L.L.C. (collectively, “Coventry”) filed suit against the Company and certain of its affiliates and officers in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.  The complaint contained allegations including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent inducement, misrepresentation, and economic duress.  The complaint sought compensatory, consequential and punitive damages. The Company denied, and vigorously defended itself against all claims.

15


On October 10, 2014, the Company and Coventry entered into a settlement agreement providing for mutual releases of all claims and the dismissal of the pending litigation, as well as a mutual agreement for the division of the joint venture’s assets (Note 2). The settlement was finalized and all of the pending litigation was dismissed with prejudice on March 13, 2015.  The settlement did not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  

Other

In addition to the litigation discussed above, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, which, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.  The Company is also subject to a variety of legal actions for personal injury or property damage arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which are covered by insurance.  While the resolution of all matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of such legal proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

 

 

 

10.

Other Comprehensive Loss

The changes in Accumulated OCI by component are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Gains and

Losses on

Cash Flow

Hedges

 

 

Foreign

Currency

Items

 

 

Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2014

$

(8,485

)

 

$

1,133

 

 

$

(7,352

)

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

 

(97

)

 

 

85

 

 

 

(12

)

Change in cash flow hedges reclassed to earnings(A)

 

675

 

 

 

 

 

 

675

 

Net current-period other comprehensive income

 

578

 

 

 

85

 

 

 

663

 

Balance, March 31, 2015

$

(7,907

)

 

$

1,218

 

 

$

(6,689

)

(A)

Includes Other Income (Expense) of $0.6 million and amortization classified in Interest Expense of $0.1 million in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015, which was previously recognized in Accumulated OCI.

 

11.

Impairment Charges and Impairment of Joint Venture Investments

The Company recorded impairment charges during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, based on the difference between the carrying value of the assets or investments and the estimated fair market value as follows (in millions):  

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Assets marketed for sale or assets sold(A)

$

179.7

 

 

$

1.9

 

Undeveloped land previously held for development(B)

 

99.3

 

 

 

0.4

 

Total continuing operations

$

279.0

 

 

$

2.3

 

Sold assets – discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

8.5

 

Joint venture investments(C)

 

 

 

 

9.1

 

Total impairment charges

$

279.0

 

 

$

19.9

 

(A)

In March 2015, the Company’s new senior management team initiated changes in the Company’s investment strategy.  Senior management took steps to accelerate the Company’s portfolio quality improvement initiative, which it intends to accomplish in part through the acceleration of disposition plans of lower quality assets that do not have strong long-term growth profiles.  As a result, in connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company concluded that the assets were impaired.  The Company recorded impairment charges on 25 operating shopping centers that management identified as disposition candidates over the following 12 to 24-month period.

(B)

Amounts reported in the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, primarily related to five parcels of land previously held for future development.  The asset impairments were triggered primarily by the decision made by the Company’s senior management in the first quarter to sell the land and no longer consider development.

(C)

Represents “other than temporary impairment” charges on unconsolidated joint venture investments.  

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

For a description of the Company’s methodology on determining the fair value, refer to Note 12 of the Company’s Financial Statements filed on its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended.

16


The following table presents information about the Company’s impairment charges on both financial and nonfinancial assets that were measured on a fair value basis for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, and the year ended December 31, 2014.  The table also indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used by the Company to determine such fair value (in millions).  

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

 

Total

Losses

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-lived assets held and used

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

407.1

 

 

$

407.1

 

 

$

279.0

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-lived assets held and used

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

141.2

 

 

 

141.2

 

 

 

38.1

 

Unconsolidated joint venture investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

 

30.7

 

 

The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used by the Company to determine the fair value of non-recurring items (in millions, except price per square foot and price per acre which is in thousands):

 

 

 

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

 

 

 

Fair Value at

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range

 

Description

 

March 31,

2015

 

 

December 31,

2014

 

 

Valuation

Technique

 

Unobservable

Inputs

 

2015

 

2014

 

Impairment of consolidated assets

 

$

33.8

 

 

$

74.2

 

 

Indicative

Bid(A)/

Contracted

Price

 

Indicative

Bid(A)/

Contracted

Price

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

$

287.6

 

 

$

67.0

 

 

Income

Capitalization

Approach(B)/

Sales

Comparison

Approach

 

Market

Capitalization

Rate

 

8%9%

 

 

8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price per

Square Foot

 

$10–$40

 

N/A

 

 

 

$

51.5

 

 

N/A

 

 

Indicative

Bid(A)

 

Indicative

Bid(A)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discounted

Cash Flow

 

Discount

Rate

 

10%14%

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminal

Capitalization

Rate

 

8%10%

 

N/A

 

 

 

$

34.2

 

 

N/A

 

 

Indicative

Bid(A)/

Sales

Comparison

Approach

 

Indicative

Bid(A)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Impairment of joint venture investments

 

N/A

 

 

$

6.4

 

 

Discounted

Cash Flow

 

Discount

Rate

 

N/A

 

 

15%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminal

Capitalization

Rate

 

N/A

 

 

6%

 

(A)

Fair value measurements based upon indicative bids were developed by third-party sources (including offers and comparable sales values), subject to the Company’s corroboration for reasonableness.  The Company does not have access to certain unobservable inputs used by these third parties to determine these estimated fair values.  

(B)

Vacant space in certain assets was valued based on a price per square foot.  

 

17


12.

Disposition of Real Estate and Discontinued Operations

 

Disposition of Real Estate

 

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company sold nine properties for total proceeds of $103.4 million and recorded a net gain of $25.1 million.  These sales have not been classified as discontinued operations in the financial statements, as these sales do not represent a strategic shift in the Company’s business plan (Note 1).  

 

Discontinued Operations

The Company sold 35 properties in 2014 that are included in discontinued operations.  The following table provides a summary of revenues and expenses from properties included in discontinued operations prior to the newly-adopted guidance for reporting discontinued operations (Note 1) (in thousands):  

 

 

Three-Month Period

Ended March 31,

 

 

2014

 

Revenues

$

14,069

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

Operating expenses

 

4,048

 

Impairment charges

 

8,512

 

Interest, net

 

3,514

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

5,678

 

 

 

21,752

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(7,683

)

Gain on disposition of real estate, net of tax

 

10,695

 

Income from discontinued operations

$

3,012

 

 

 

18


13.

Earnings Per Share

The following table provides a reconciliation of net loss from continuing operations and the number of common shares used in the computations of “basic” earnings per share (“EPS”), which utilizes the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding without regard to dilutive potential common shares, and “diluted” EPS, which includes all such shares (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Numerators Basic and Diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations

$

(268,008

)

 

$

(20,300

)

Plus: Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate

 

25,094

 

 

 

(1,090

)

Plus: Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(873

)

 

 

(155

)

Preferred dividends

 

(5,594

)

 

 

(6,608

)

Less: Earnings attributable to unvested shares and operating partnership units

 

(437

)

 

 

(310

)

Loss from continuing operations

 

(249,818

)

 

 

(28,463

)

Discontinued Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations

 

 

 

 

3,012

 

Plus: Income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

1,893

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders after allocation to

   participating securities

$

(249,818

)

 

$

(23,558

)

Denominators Number of Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Average shares outstanding

 

359,818

 

 

 

357,634

 

Basic Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.08

)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.07

)

Diluted Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.08

)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders

 

 

 

 

0.01

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.07

)

 

The following potentially dilutive securities were considered in the calculation of EPS:

Potentially Dilutive Securities

·

The Company’s senior convertible notes due 2040 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS for all periods presented due to the Company’s loss from continuing operations.  In accordance with the terms specified in the governing documents, the senior convertible notes are convertible into common shares of the Company during the subsequent quarter if the Company’s trading price exceeds 125% of the conversion rate ($14.85 at March 31, 2015), for at least 20 trading days (whether consecutive or not consecutive) in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the fiscal quarter.  These notes were not convertible at March 31, 2015.

·

Shares subject to issuance under the Company’s 2013 VSEP were not considered in the computation of diluted EPS for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 as the calculation was anti-dilutive.

·

At March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had 1,441,890 and 398,701 OP Units, respectively, outstanding.  The exchange into common shares associated with OP Units was not included in the computation of diluted shares outstanding for both periods presented because the effect of assuming conversion was anti-dilutive.  

Common Shares

Common share dividends declared were $0.1725 and $0.155 per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

 

 

19


14.

Segment Information

At March 31, 2015, the Company had two reportable operating segments: shopping centers and loan investments.  Each consolidated shopping center is considered a separate operating segment; however, each shopping center on a stand-alone basis represents less than 10% of the revenues, profit or loss, and assets of the combined reported operating segment and meets the majority of the aggregation criteria under the applicable standard.  

 

The tables below present information about the Company’s reportable operating segments and reflect the impact of discontinued operations in 2014 (Note 12) (in thousands):

 

 

Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

Shopping

Centers

 

 

Loan

Investments

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

Total revenues

$

258,770

 

 

$

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

258,825

 

Operating expenses(A)

 

(355,357

)

 

 

(19

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(355,376

)

Net operating (loss) income

 

(96,587

)

 

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(96,551

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

(103,015

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(103,015

)

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

7,161

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,161

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(3,428

)

 

 

(3,428

)

Unallocated expenses(B)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(86,515

)

 

 

(86,515

)

Equity in net income of joint ventures

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61

 

Gain on change in control of interests

 

14,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,279

 

Loss from continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(268,008

)

As of March 31, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross real estate assets

$

10,047,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

10,047,415

 

Notes receivable, net(C)

 

 

 

 

$

354,205

 

 

$

(307,021

)

 

$

47,184

 

 

 

Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

Shopping

Centers

 

 

Loan

Investments

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

Total revenues

$

241,475

 

 

$

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

241,512

 

Operating expenses(A)

 

(72,842

)

 

 

(50

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(72,892

)

Net operating income (loss)

 

168,633

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

168,620

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(103,619

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(103,619

)

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

3,127

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,127

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(4,183

)

 

 

(4,183

)

Unallocated expenses(B)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(80,635

)

 

 

(80,635

)

Equity in net income of joint ventures

 

5,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

318

 

 

 

5,490

 

Impairment of joint venture investments

 

(9,100

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,100

)

Loss from continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(20,300

)

As of March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total gross real estate assets

$

10,097,422

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

10,097,422

 

Notes receivable, net(C)

 

 

 

 

$

144,901

 

 

$

(65,956

)

 

$

78,945

 

 

(A)

Includes impairment charges of $279.0 million and $2.3 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  

(B)

Unallocated expenses consist of General and Administrative expenses, Interest Expense and Tax Expense as listed in the consolidated statements of operations.  

(C)

Amount includes loans to affiliates classified in Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures on the consolidated balance sheets.  

 

20


15.

Subsequent Events

In April 2015, the Company amended and restated its primary Unsecured Credit Facility with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the unsecured PNC Facility provided solely by PNC Bank, National Association.

The Unsecured Credit Facility maturity date was extended to June 2019, with two six-month borrower options to extend upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing terms of the facility and increase their commitment level.  The amended PNC Facility reduced the commitments to $50 million and modifies certain other terms to conform to the terms of the Unsecured Credit Facility.  In April 2015, pricing on both the Unsecured Credit Facility and PNC Facility was reduced and set at LIBOR plus 100 basis points, a decrease of 15 basis points from the previous rate, and is determined based upon DDR's credit ratings from Moody's and S&P.  

In addition, in April 2015, the Company entered into a $400 million unsecured term loan with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and PNC Bank, National Association, as syndication agent.  The unsecured term loan has a maturity date of April 2017, with options upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing tems of the facility and increase their commitment level, to extend the maturity for up to three additional one-year periods.  At April 2015, pricing on the unsecured term loan was set at LIBOR plus 110 basis points and is determined based upon DDR's credit ratings from Moody's and S&P.  The unsecured term loan was unfunded at May 1, 2015, but it can be drawn at any time over the twelve months following April 2015.  

In connection with these refinancings, the Company repaid $100 million of its secured term loan with KeyBank, National Association, as administrative agent, and modified financial covenants and certain other terms to conform to the Unsecured Credit Facility.

 

 

 

 

 

21


ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) provides readers with a perspective from management on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors that may affect the Company’s future results. The Company believes it is important to read the MD&A in conjunction with its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended, as well as other publicly available information.

Executive Summary

The Company is a self-administered and self-managed Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) in the business of acquiring, owning, developing, redeveloping, expanding, leasing and managing shopping centers. In addition, the Company engages in the origination and acquisition of loans and debt securities collateralized directly or indirectly by shopping centers. As of March 31, 2015, the Company’s portfolio consisted of 407 shopping centers (including 188 shopping centers owned through joint ventures). These properties consist of shopping centers owned in the United States and Puerto Rico. At March 31, 2015, the Company owned and managed more than 117 million total square feet of gross leasable area (“GLA”).  

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, net loss attributable to common shareholders increased compared to the prior-year, primarily due to a greater amount of impairment charges in 2015.  The following provides an overview of the Company’s key financial metrics (see Non-GAAP Financial Measures, FFO described later in this section) (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(249,381

)

 

$

(23,248

)

FFO attributable to common shareholders

$

13,203

 

 

$

85,812

 

Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders

$

107,133

 

 

$

100,710

 

Earnings per share Diluted

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.07

)

First Quarter 2015 Operating Results

 

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company continued to pursue opportunities to position itself for long-term growth while lowering the Company’s risk profile and cost of capital. A new senior leadership team was put in place as the Company named a new chief executive officer as well as a new chief financial officer in the first quarter of 2015.  Although the overall Company strategy is not changing, as a result of a combination of continual recycling of assets and the overall favorable asset disposition environment, the new senior management determined to accelerate the portfolio quality improvement initiative and potentially achieve lower leverage more quickly.  Management expects to achieve these goals through the acceleration of asset sales not considered to have long-term growth potential as well as the re-evaluation of the targeted risk return criteria for investing in development/redevelopments and new acquisitions of prime assets (i.e., market-dominant prime power centers located in large and supply-constrained markets occupied by high-quality retailers with strong demographic profiles, which are referred to as “Prime”).  In connection with the review of the portfolio, the Company recorded $279.0 million in impairment charges in the first quarter of 2015 related to 25 operating shopping centers and five parcels of land previously held for development.  The impairments were triggered by the acceleration of the disposition plans for the operating assets as well as the decision to no longer pursue any potential development related to the land parcels.

Significant 2015 transactional activity included the following:

Amended its primary $750 million Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility and entered into a new $400 million unsecured term loan in April 2015;

Issued $500 million, 3.625% senior unsecured notes due February 2025;

Completed the disposition of $107.7 million of assets, of which DDR’s pro-rata share of the proceeds was $103.6 million and

Dissolved the Company’s joint venture with the Coventry II Fund and acquired its 80% interest in one shopping center valued at $49.2 million.

22


The Company continued its trend of consistent internal growth and strong operating performance in the first three months of 2015 as evidenced by the number of leases executed during the first quarter, the upward trend in the average annualized base rental rates, an occupancy rate maintained above 93% and the achievement of double-digit rental spreads on new leases.

The Company leased approximately 2.6 million square feet in the first quarter of 2015, including 124 new leases and 165 renewals for a total of 289 leases.  At March 31, 2015, remaining 2015 lease expirations aggregated approximately 3.3 million square feet of GLA as compared to 5.1 million square feet of GLA as of December 31, 2014.  The remaining 3.3 million square feet represents 63.8% of total annualized base rent of 2015 expiring leases as of December 31, 2014.

The aggregate occupancy of the Company’s operating shopping center portfolio was 93.2% at March 31, 2015, as compared to 93.5% at December 31, 2014 and 92.6% at March 31, 2014.  The slight decrease in the occupancy rate at March 31, 2015, as compared to December 31, 2014, is indicative of the seasonality of the Company’s business as it is not uncommon for tenant closures to exceed tenant openings in the first quarter after the traditional holiday shopping season.

The Company’s total portfolio average annualized base rent per square foot increased to $14.02 at March 31, 2015, as compared to $13.91 at December 31, 2014 and $13.44 at March 31, 2014.

·

The Company continued to execute both new leases and renewals at positive rental spreads, which contributed to the increase in the average annualized base rent per square foot.  At December 31, 2014, the Company had 887 leases expiring in 2015, with an average base rent per square foot of $15.56.  For the comparable leases executed in the first quarter of 2015, the Company generated positive leasing spreads on a pro rata basis of 26.9% for new leases and 6.7% for renewals.  The Company’s leasing spread calculation only includes deals that were executed within one year of the date the prior tenant vacated.  As a result, the Company believes its calculation is a good benchmark to compare the average annualized base rent of expiring leases with the comparable executed market rental rates.

For new leases executed during the first quarter of 2015, the Company expended a weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated at $6.14 per rentable square foot over the lease term.  The Company generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

As disclosed in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein, the Company adopted FASB Standard, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, as of January 1, 2015.  The Company did not have any asset sales that qualified for discontinued operations presentation in 2015.  However, the 2014 condensed consolidated financial statements continue to be presented in accordance with the accounting standards effective through December 31, 2014.

 

Shopping center properties owned as of January 1, 2014, but excluding properties under development or redevelopment and those sold by the Company, are referred to herein as the “Comparable Portfolio Properties.”

 

Revenues from Operations (in thousands)

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

$ Change

 

Base and percentage rental revenues(A)

$

182,082

 

 

$

167,828

 

 

$

14,254

 

Recoveries from tenants(B)

 

64,080

 

 

 

57,800

 

 

 

6,280

 

Fee and other income(C)

 

12,663

 

 

 

15,884

 

 

 

(3,221

)

Total revenues

$

258,825

 

 

$

241,512

 

 

$

17,313

 

 

23


(A)

The increase was due to the following (in millions):

 

 

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

Acquisition of shopping centers

 

$

11.8

 

 

Comparable Portfolio Properties

 

 

2.4

 

 

Development or redevelopment properties

 

 

0.4

 

 

Disposition of shopping centers in 2015

 

 

(0.6

)

 

Straight-line rents

 

 

0.3

 

 

Total

 

$

14.3

 

 

 

The following tables present the statistics for the Company’s operating shopping center portfolio affecting base and percentage rental revenues summarized by the following portfolios:  combined shopping center portfolio, wholly-owned shopping center portfolio and joint venture shopping center portfolio:  

 

 

Combined Shopping

Center Portfolio

March 31,

 

 

Wholly-Owned

Shopping Centers(1)

March 31,

 

 

Joint Venture

Shopping Centers

March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Centers owned

 

407

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

219

 

 

 

239

 

 

 

188

 

 

 

167

 

Aggregate occupancy rate

 

93.2

%

 

 

92.6

%

 

 

93.6

%

 

 

93.1

%

 

 

92.6

%

 

 

91.5

%

Average annualized base rent per

   occupied square foot(2)

$

14.02

 

 

$

13.44

 

 

$

14.37

 

 

$

13.70

 

 

$

13.43

 

 

$

12.90

 

 

(1)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Comparable Portfolio Properties’ aggregate occupancy rate was 94.0% and 93.5%, respectively, and the average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $14.26 and $13.67, respectively.

 

(2)

The increase in the average annualized base rent per occupied square foot primarily was due to the Company’s strategic portfolio realignment achieved through the recycling of capital from asset sales into the acquisition of Prime power centers, as well as continued leasing of the existing portfolio at positive rental spreads.  

 

(B)

The increase in recoveries from tenants primarily was driven by the impact of acquired properties.  Recoveries from tenants for assets owned by the Company as of March 31, 2015, on a blended basis, were approximately 90.6% and 92.2% of reimbursable operating expenses and real estate taxes for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  The slight decrease in the recovery rate primarily was due to the impact of severe weather that occurred in the northeast during the first quarter of 2015.

 

(C)

Composed of the following (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

$ Change

 

Management, development and other fee income

$

8.1

 

 

$

8.2

 

 

 

$

(0.1

)

Ancillary and other property income(1)

 

4.2

 

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

 

(2.0

)

Lease termination fees

 

0.2

 

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

 

(1.1

)

Other

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12.7

 

 

$

15.9

 

 

 

$

(3.2

)

 

(1)

Decrease primarily is due to the termination of the Company’s operating agreement with certain entertainment operations at a property under redevelopment.  After deducting the related operating expenses associated with the operating agreement, the impact of the termination on the Company’s results was immaterial.

24


Expenses from Operations (in thousands)

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

$ Change

 

Operating and maintenance(A)

$

38,726

 

 

$

36,587

 

 

 

$

2,139

 

Real estate taxes(A)

 

37,629

 

 

 

33,976

 

 

 

 

3,653

 

Impairment charges(B)

 

279,021

 

 

 

2,329

 

 

 

 

276,692

 

General and administrative(C)

 

18,595

 

 

 

20,253

 

 

 

 

(1,658

)

Depreciation and amortization(A)

 

103,015

 

 

 

103,619

 

 

 

 

(604

)

 

$

476,986

 

 

$

196,764

 

 

 

$

280,222

 

 

(A)

The changes for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, compared to the comparable period in 2014, are due to the following (in millions):

 

 

 

Operating

and

Maintenance

 

 

Real Estate

Taxes

 

 

Depreciation

and

Amortization

 

Acquisition of shopping centers

 

$

2.4

 

 

$

2.5

 

 

$

10.4

 

Comparable Portfolio Properties

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

1.2

 

 

 

(7.2

)

Development or redevelopment properties

 

 

(1.1

)

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

(3.5

)

Disposition of shopping centers in 2015

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

$

2.1

 

 

$

3.7

 

 

$

(0.6

)

 

The decrease in depreciation expense for the Comparable Portfolio Properties and development or redevelopment properties was attributable to accelerated depreciation charges related to changes in the estimated useful lives of certain assets in 2014.

 

(B)

As discussed above, the higher impairment charges in 2015 related to 25 operating shopping centers and five parcels of land previously held for future development, which management has identified as disposal candidates over the following 12 to 24-month period.  

 

(C)

General and administrative expenses were approximately 4.7% and 5.0% of the total revenues of the Company’s portfolio for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  The decrease in expense primarily was due to the change in the Company’s executive structure in the first quarter of 2015 as well as lower travel and advertising expenses.  The Company continues to expense certain internal leasing salaries, legal salaries and related expenses associated with leasing and re-leasing of existing space.

Other Income and Expenses (in thousands)

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

 

$ Change

 

Interest income(A)

$

7,161

 

 

$

3,127

 

 

 

$

4,034

 

Interest expense(B)

 

(63,020

)

 

 

(59,698

)

 

 

 

(3,322

)

Other income (expense), net(C)

 

(3,428

)

 

 

(4,183

)

 

 

 

755

 

 

$

(59,287

)

 

$

(60,754

)

 

 

$

1,467

 

 

(A)

The weighted-average interest rate of loan receivables reflected in interest income, including loans to affiliates, was 8.6% and 9.4% at March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  The change in the amount of interest income recognized in the first quarter of 2015 primarily is due to the preferred equity investment in an unconsolidated joint venture with an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. (“Blackstone”) that was funded in the fourth quarter of 2014.  

 

25


(B)

The weighted-average debt outstanding and related weighted-average interest rate for all properties, are as follows:

 

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Weighted-average debt outstanding (in billions)

 

$

5.3

 

 

$

5.3

 

Weighted-average interest rate

 

 

5.1

%

 

 

5.0

%

 

The weighted-average interest rate (based on contractual rates and excluding senior convertible debt accretion, fair market value of adjustments and deferred financing costs) at March 31, 2015 and 2014 was 4.8% for both periods.  

 

Interest costs capitalized in conjunction with development and redevelopment projects and unconsolidated development and redevelopment joint venture interests were $1.6 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to $1.8 million for the comparable period in 2014.

For the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, $3.5 million of interest expense was classified as discontinued operations.  As a result, when this amount is appropriately considered in the year-over-year comparison, the change in interest expense was immaterial.

 

(C)

Other income (expense) was composed of the following (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Transaction and other (expense) income, net

$

(0.1

)

 

$

(4.0

)

Litigation-related expenses

 

 

 

 

(0.2

)

Debt extinguishment costs, net(1)

 

(3.3

)

 

 

 

 

$

(3.4

)

 

$

(4.2

)

 

(1)

Debt extinguishment costs related to the write-off of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to the repayment of the $350.0 million unsecured term loan and $100.0 million secured term loan from proceeds of the issuance of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due February 2025.  

 

Other Items (in thousands)

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

$ Change

 

Equity in net income of joint ventures(A)

$

61

 

 

$

5,490

 

 

$

(5,429

)

Impairment of joint venture investments(B)

 

 

 

 

(9,100

)

 

 

9,100

 

Gain on change in control of interests(C)

 

14,279

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,279

 

Tax expense of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income

   taxes(D)

 

(4,900

)

 

 

(684

)

 

 

(4,216

)

 

(A)

The decrease in equity in net income of joint ventures for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, compared to the prior-year period, primarily was a result of the sale of joint venture investments in 2014.

 

(B)

The other than temporary impairment charges of the joint venture investments are more fully described in Note 11, “Impairment Charges and Impairment of Joint Venture Investments,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.  

 

(C)

Related to the final dissolution of the Company’s joint venture with the Coventry II Fund.  As part of the final settlement, the Company acquired one asset and recorded an aggregate net gain related to the difference between the fair value of the asset acquired and the carrying value of the Company’s equity investment in the joint venture.  See discussion of legal matters regarding the Coventry II Fund in Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

26


(D)

The increase in income tax expense primarily is a result of a tax restructuring completed in the first quarter of 2015 related to the Company’s assets in Puerto Rico, in accordance with temporary legislation of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code.  This election permitted the Company to step-up its tax basis in the 15 Puerto Rican assets, reduce its effective tax rate from 39% to 10% on operational activity and reduce any future capital gains tax.  

 

Disposition of Real Estate and Discontinued Operations, Non-Controlling Interests and Net Loss (in thousands)

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

$ Change

 

Income from discontinued operations(A)

N/A

 

 

$

3,012

 

 

$

(3,012

)

Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net(B)

$

25,094

 

 

 

(1,090

)

 

 

26,184

 

(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, net(C)

 

(873

)

 

 

1,738

 

 

 

(2,611

)

Net loss attributable to DDR(D)

 

(243,787

)

 

 

(16,640

)

 

 

(227,147

)

 

(A)

In 2014, the Company sold 35 properties which were classified as discontinued operations in the financial statements.  The assets sales in 2015 do not represent a strategic shift in the Company’s business plan as more fully described in Note 1, “New Accounting Standards Adopted,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.  

 

(B)

The gain on disposition of real estate is more fully described in Note 12, “Disposition of Real Estate and Discontinued Operations,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.  

 

(C)

Change in non-controlling interests for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, compared to the prior year comparable period, primarily was the result of the sale of one asset in the first quarter of 2014.

 

(D)

The increase in net loss attributable to DDR for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, compared to the prior year comparable period, primarily was due to a greater amount of impairment charges recorded in 2015 triggered by an acceleration of the Company’s asset disposition plans.

 

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

Definition and Basis of Presentation

 

The Company believes that Funds from Operations (“FFO”) and Operating FFO, both non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional and useful means to assess the financial performance of REITs.  FFO and Operating FFO are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the performance of REITs.

 

FFO excludes GAAP historical cost depreciation and amortization of real estate and real estate investments, which assume that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time.  Historically, however, real estate values have risen or fallen with market conditions, and many companies use different depreciable lives and methods.  Because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate, gains and losses from depreciable property dispositions and extraordinary items, it can provide a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs, acquisition, disposition and development activities and interest costs.  This provides a perspective of the Company’s financial performance not immediately apparent from net income determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude (i) preferred share dividends, (ii) gains and losses from disposition of depreciable real estate property and related investments, which are presented net of taxes, (iii) impairment charges on depreciable real estate property and related investments, (iv) extraordinary items and (v) certain non-cash items.  These non-cash items principally include real property depreciation and amortization of intangibles, equity income (loss) from joint ventures and equity income (loss) from non-controlling interests and the Company’s proportionate share of FFO from its unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interests, determined on a consistent basis.  The Company’s calculation of FFO is consistent with the definition of FFO provided by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”).  Other real estate companies may calculate FFO in a different manner.

 

The Company believes that certain gains and charges recorded in its operating results are not reflective of its core operating performance.  As a result, the Company also computes Operating FFO and discusses it with the users of its financial statements, in addition to other measures such as net income/loss determined in accordance with GAAP as well as FFO.  Operating FFO is generally defined and calculated by the Company as FFO excluding certain charges and gains that management believes are not indicative of the

27


results of the Company’s operating real estate portfolio.  The disclosure of these charges and gains is regularly requested by users of the Company’s financial statements.  The adjustment for these charges and gains may not be comparable to how other REITs or real estate companies calculate their results of operations, and the Company’s calculation of Operating FFO differs from NAREIT’s definition of FFO.  Additionally, the Company provides no assurances that these charges and gains are non-recurring.  These charges and gains could be reasonably expected to recur in future results of operations.

 

These measures of performance are used by the Company for several business purposes and by other REITs.  The Company uses FFO and/or Operating FFO in part (i) as a disclosure to improve the understanding of the Company’s operating results among the investing public, (ii) as a measure of a real estate asset’s performance, (iii) to influence acquisition, disposition and capital investment strategies and (iv) to compare the Company’s performance to that of other publicly traded shopping center REITs.

 

For the reasons described above, management believes that FFO and Operating FFO provide the Company and investors with an important indicator of the Company’s operating performance.  They provide recognized measures of performance other than GAAP net income, which may include non-cash items (often significant).  Other real estate companies may calculate FFO and Operating FFO in a different manner.

 

Management recognizes the limitations of FFO and Operating FFO when compared to GAAP’s income from continuing operations.  FFO and Operating FFO do not represent amounts available for dividends, capital replacement or expansion, debt service obligations or other commitments and uncertainties.  Management does not use FFO or Operating FFO as an indicator of the Company’s cash obligations and funding requirements for future commitments, acquisitions or development activities.  Neither FFO nor Operating FFO represents cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, and neither is necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.  Neither FFO nor Operating FFO should be considered an alternative to net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.  FFO and Operating FFO are simply used as additional indicators of the Company’s operating performance.  The Company believes that to further understand its performance, FFO and Operating FFO should be compared with the Company’s reported net income (loss) and considered in addition to cash flows determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Reconciliation Presentation

 

FFO and Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders were as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

$ Change

 

FFO attributable to common shareholders(A)

$

13.2

 

 

$

85.8

 

 

$

(72.6

)

Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders(B)

 

107.1

 

 

 

100.7

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

(A)

The decrease in FFO for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the comparable period in 2014, primarily was due to an increase in impairment charges of non-depreciable assets.  

 

(B)

The increase in Operating FFO for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the comparable period in 2014, primarily was due to the impact of Prime power center acquisitions as well as organic growth and continued lease up within the portfolio.

 

The Company’s reconciliation of net loss attributable to common shareholders to FFO attributable to common shareholders and Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders is as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Net loss attributable to common shareholders

$

(249.4

)

 

$

(23.2

)

Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments

 

100.9

 

 

 

107.0

 

Equity in net income of joint ventures

 

(0.1

)

 

 

(5.5

)

Joint ventures' FFO(A)

 

7.0

 

 

 

8.7

 

Non-controlling interests (OP Units)

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.1

 

Impairment of depreciable real estate assets

 

179.8

 

 

 

10.4

 

Gain on disposition of depreciable real estate

 

(25.2

)

 

 

(11.7

)

FFO attributable to common shareholders

 

13.2

 

 

 

85.8

 

Non-operating items, net(B)

 

93.9

 

 

 

14.9

 

Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders

$

107.1

 

 

$

100.7

 

28


 

(A)

At March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had an economic investment in unconsolidated joint venture interests related to 187 and 166 operating shopping center properties, respectively.  These joint ventures represent the investments in which the Company recorded its share of equity in net income or loss and, accordingly, FFO and Operating FFO.

 

FFO at DDR ownership interests considers the impact of basis differentials.  Joint ventures’ FFO and Operating FFO is summarized as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Net (loss) income attributable to unconsolidated joint ventures

$

(12.0

)

 

$

7.7

 

Depreciation and amortization of real estate investments

 

56.7

 

 

 

44.2

 

Impairment of depreciable real estate assets

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

Loss (gain) on disposition of depreciable real estate, net

 

0.2

 

 

 

(21.5

)

FFO

$

45.3

 

 

$

30.4

 

FFO at DDR's ownership interests

$

7.0

 

 

$

8.7

 

Operating FFO at DDR's ownership interests(B)

$

7.0

 

 

$

9.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Straight-line rental revenue

$

1.0

 

 

$

0.9

 

DDR's proportionate share

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

 

(B)

Amounts are described in the Operating FFO Adjustments section below.

 

Operating FFO Adjustments

 

The Company’s adjustments to arrive at Operating FFO are composed of the following for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (in millions).  The Company provides no assurances that these charges and gains are non-recurring.  These charges and gains could be reasonably expected to recur in future results of operations.

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Impairment charges non-depreciable assets

$

99.3

 

 

$

9.5

 

Other (income) expense, net(A)

 

3.9

 

 

 

4.8

 

Equity in net loss of joint ventures currency adjustments and debt

   extinguishment costs

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

Gain on change in control of interests

 

(14.3

)

 

 

 

Tax expense (primarily Puerto Rico restructuring)

 

4.4

 

 

 

 

Loss on disposition of non-depreciable real estate, net

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.2

 

Total adjustments from FFO to Operating FFO

 

93.9

 

 

 

14.9

 

FFO attributable to common shareholders

 

13.2

 

 

 

85.8

 

Operating FFO attributable to common shareholders

$

107.1

 

 

$

100.7

 

 

(A)

Amounts included in other income/expense as follows (in millions):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Transaction and other (income) expense, net

$

0.6

 

 

$

4.6

 

Litigation-related expenses

 

 

 

 

0.2

 

Debt extinguishment costs, net

 

3.3

 

 

 

 

 

$

3.9

 

 

$

4.8

 

 

 

29


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

The Company periodically evaluates opportunities to issue and sell additional debt or equity securities, obtain credit facilities from lenders, or repurchase or refinance long-term debt for strategic reasons, including to further strengthen the financial position of the Company.  In the first three months of 2015, the Company continued to strategically allocate cash flow from operating and financing activities.  The Company also completed a public debt offering in order to strengthen its balance sheet, finance strategic investments and improve its financial flexibility.

 

The Company’s consolidated and unconsolidated debt obligations generally require monthly or semi-annual payments of principal and/or interest over the term of the obligation.  While the Company currently believes it has several viable sources to obtain capital and fund its business, including capacity under its facilities described below, no assurance can be provided that these obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated.  

 

In April 2015, the Company amended its unsecured revolving credit facility arranged by J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Unsecured Credit Facility”).  The Unsecured Credit Facility provides for borrowings of up to $750 million and includes an accordion feature for expansion of availability up to $1.25 billion upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing terms of the facility and increase their commitment level.  In April 2015, the Company also amended its unsecured revolving credit facility with PNC Bank, National Association (together with the Unsecured Credit Facility, the “Revolving Credit Facilities”) to reduce the borrowing capacity from $65 million to $50 million and to match the terms of the primary facility.  The Company’s borrowings under these facilities bear interest at variable rates, which were reduced and set at LIBOR plus 100 basis points, a decrease of 15 basis points from the previous rate, subject to adjustment based on the Company’s current corporate credit ratings from Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).

 

The Revolving Credit Facilities and the indentures under which the Company’s senior and subordinated unsecured indebtedness is, or may be, issued contain certain financial and operating covenants including, among other things, leverage ratios and debt service coverage, as well as limitations on the Company’s ability to sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and engage in mergers and certain acquisitions.  These credit facilities and indentures also contain customary default provisions including the failure to make timely payments of principal and interest payable thereunder, the failure to comply with the Company’s financial and operating covenants, the occurrence of a material adverse effect on the Company and the failure of the Company or its majority-owned subsidiaries (i.e., entities in which the Company has a greater than 50% interest) to pay, when due, certain indebtedness in excess of certain thresholds beyond applicable grace and cure periods.  In the event the Company’s lenders or note holders declare a default, as defined in the applicable agreements governing the debt, the Company may be unable to obtain further funding, and/or an acceleration of any outstanding borrowings may occur.  As of March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants in the agreements governing its debt.  Although the Company intends to operate in compliance with these covenants, if the Company were to violate these covenants, the Company may be subject to higher finance costs and fees or accelerated maturities.  The Company believes it will continue to be able to operate in compliance with these covenants for the remainder of 2015 and beyond.

 

In certain circumstances, if other debt of the Company has been accelerated then the Company’s credit facilities could be accelerated.  Furthermore, a default under a loan by the Company or its affiliates, a foreclosure on a mortgaged property owned by the Company or its affiliates or the inability to refinance existing indebtedness may have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.  Consequently, the Company believes that it focuses on its maturity profile and lowering overall balance sheet risk and increasing financial flexibility.

 

The Company expects to fund its obligations from available cash, current operations and utilization of its Revolving Credit Facilities; however, the Company may issue long-term debt and/or equity securities in lieu of, or in addition to, borrowing under its Revolving Credit Facilities.  The following information summarizes the availability of the Revolving Credit Facilities at March 31, 2015 (in millions):

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

56.0

 

Revolving Credit Facilities

$

815.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

Amount outstanding

 

(6.3

)

Letters of credit

 

(1.1

)

Borrowing capacity available

$

807.6

 

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company had a continuous equity program that allowed for the future issuance of up to $250.0 million of common shares.  As of May 1, 2015, the Company had available for future issuance up to $234.6 million of its common shares under this program.

30


 

The Company intends to continue to maintain a long-term financing strategy with limited reliance on short-term debt.  The Company believes its Revolving Credit Facilities are sufficient for its liquidity strategy and longer-term capital structure needs.  Part of the Company’s overall strategy includes scheduling future debt maturities in a balanced manner, including incorporating a healthy level of conservatism regarding possible future market conditions.  For additional discussion, see Financing Activities described later in this section.

 

In January 2015, the Company issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due February 2025.  Net proceeds from the issuance were used to repay $350.0 million of debt under the Company’s unsecured term loan, $100.0 million of debt under the Company’s secured term loan and amounts outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facilities.

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s 2015 debt maturities consisted of $153.0 million of unsecured notes (which was repaid at maturity in May 2015), $350.0 million of convertible unsecured notes and $432.4 million of consolidated mortgage debt.  The Company expects to fund these obligations from public debt offerings, the undrawn unsecured term loan entered into in April 2015, possible refinancing opportunities, utilization of its Revolving Credit Facilities and/or cash flow from operations.  No assurance can be provided that these obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated.

 

Management believes the scheduled debt maturities in 2015 and in future years are manageable.  The Company continually evaluates its debt maturities and, based on management’s assessment, believes it has viable financing and refinancing alternatives.  The Company continues to evaluate its debt maturing in 2015 and beyond with the goal of executing a strategy to extend debt duration, lower leverage, increase liquidity and improve the Company’s credit ratings with the objective of lowering the Company's balance sheet risk and cost of capital.

 

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures did not have any mortgage debt maturing in 2015.

 

Cash Flow Activity

 

The Company’s core business of leasing space to well-capitalized retailers continues to generate consistent and predictable cash flow after expenses, interest payments and preferred share dividends.  This capital is available for use at the Company’s discretion for investment, debt repayment and the payment of dividends on preferred and common shares.

 

The Company’s cash flow activities are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three-Month Periods

Ended March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Cash flow provided by operating activities

$

62,701

 

 

$

91,891

 

Cash flow provided by investing activities

 

57,599

 

 

 

91,855

 

Cash flow used for financing activities

 

(85,402

)

 

 

(106,577

)

 

Operating Activities:  The change in cash flow from operating activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the comparable period in 2014, primarily was due to changes in accounts payable and accounts receivable, partially offset by an increase in cash flow from those assets acquired in 2014 from the date of acquisition.

 

Investing Activities:  The change in cash flow from investing activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the comparable period in 2014, primarily was due to a reduction in proceeds from the disposition of real estate and an increase in capital expenditures, partially offset by the repayment of notes receivable.      

 

Financing Activities:  The change in cash flow from financing activities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to the comparable period in 2014, primarily was due to the issuance of senior notes and related repayment of debt with the proceeds, as well as an increase in the quarterly dividend payment.

 

The Company satisfied its REIT requirement of distributing at least 90% of ordinary taxable income with declared common and preferred share cash dividends of $67.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, as compared to $62.3 million for the same period in 2014.  Because actual distributions were greater than 100% of taxable income, federal income taxes were not incurred by the Company thus far during 2015.

31


 

The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1725 per common share for the first quarter of 2015.  The Board of Directors of the Company will continue to monitor the 2015 dividend policy and provide for adjustments as determined to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to maximize the Company’s free cash flow while still adhering to REIT payout requirements.  

 

SOURCES AND USES OF CAPITAL

 

2015 Strategic Transaction Activity

 

The Company has a portfolio management strategy to recycle capital from lower quality, lower growth potential assets into Prime Assets located in large and supply-constrained markets occupied by high credit quality retailers.  Transactions are completed both on balance sheet and through off-balance sheet joint venture arrangements with top tier, well capitalized partners.

 

Acquisitions

 

In March 2015, the Company acquired its partner’s 80% interest in one shopping center in Orange County, California, valued at $49.2 million in connection with the final dissolution of the Company’s joint venture with the Coventry II Fund in exchange for the Company’s transfer of its interest in the remaining 21 joint venture assets.  See further discussion in Note 9, “Commitments and Contingencies,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

Dispositions

 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company sold nine shopping center properties, aggregating 1.1 million square feet, for an aggregate sales price of $103.4 million.  The Company recorded a net gain of $25.1 million, which excludes the impact of an aggregate $13.3 million in related impairment charges that were recorded in prior periods related to the assets sold in 2015.  In addition, one of the Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures sold one asset generating gross proceeds of $4.3 million, of which the Company’s proportionate share was $0.2 million.

 

As discussed above, a part of the Company’s portfolio management strategy is to recycle capital from lower quality, lower growth assets into the acquisition of higher quality assets with long-term growth potential.  In March 2015, the Company’s new senior management team completed an extensive review of the entire portfolio and evaluated potential sale opportunities taking into account the long-term growth prospects of assets being considered for sale, the use of sale proceeds and the impact to the Company’s balance sheet, in addition to the impact on operating results.  As a result of that review, the Company recorded an aggregate impairment charge of $179.7 million related to 25 operating shopping centers the Company expects will be marketed for sale in the near term and are no longer considered as long-term holds.

 

Development and Redevelopment Opportunities

 

One of the important benefits of the Company’s asset class is the ability to phase development and redevelopment projects over time until appropriate leasing levels can be achieved.  To maximize the return on capital spending, the Company generally adheres to strict investment criteria thresholds.  The Company also evaluates the credit quality of the tenants and, in the case of redevelopments, generally seeks to upgrade the retailer merchandise mix. The Company applies this strategy to both its consolidated and certain unconsolidated joint ventures that own assets under development and redevelopment because the Company has significant influence and, in most cases, approval rights over decisions relating to significant capital expenditures.

 

The Company will generally commence construction on various developments only after substantial tenant leasing has occurred and acceptable construction financing is available.  The Company will continue to closely monitor its expected spending in 2015 for developments and redevelopments as the Company considers this funding to be discretionary spending.  The Company does not anticipate expending significant funds on joint venture development projects in 2015.

 

The Company’s consolidated land holdings are classified in two separate line items on the consolidated balance sheets included herein, (i) Land and (ii) Land Held for Development and Construction in Progress.  At March 31, 2015, the $2.2 billion of Land classified on the Company’s balance sheet primarily consisted of land that is part of its operating shopping center portfolio.  However, this amount also includes a small portion of vacant land composed primarily of outlots or expansion pads adjacent to the operating shopping center properties.  Approximately 153 acres of this land, which has a recorded cost basis of approximately $23 million, is available for future development.

 

32


Included in Land Held for Development and Construction in Progress at March 31, 2015, were $92.8 million of recorded costs related to land held for development for which active construction has not yet commenced or was previously ceased.  The Company evaluates its intentions with respect to these assets each reporting period and records an impairment charge equal to the difference between the current carrying value and fair value when the expected undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value.  In March 2015, the Company determined it would no longer pursue the development of certain of these assets.  Rather, the Company plans to market such parcels for sale in the near term.  As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $99.3 million on five parcels of land in the first quarter of 2015.  

 

Development and Redevelopment Projects

 

As part of its portfolio management strategy to develop, expand, improve and re-tenant various consolidated properties, the Company has invested approximately $365 million in various active development and redevelopment projects and expects to bring at least $200 million of investments in service in 2015 on a net basis, after deducting sales proceeds from outlot sales.  

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s current significant consolidated development projects were as follows (dollars in millions and GLA in thousands):

 

Location

 

Estimated/Actual

Initial Owned

Anchor

Opening

 

Estimated

Owned GLA

 

 

Estimated

Gross Cost

 

 

Estimated

Net Cost

 

 

Net Cost

Incurred at

March 31, 2015

 

Orlando, Florida (Lee Vista)

 

4Q15

 

 

367

 

 

$

103

 

 

$

101

 

 

$

38

 

New Haven, Connecticut (Guilford Commons)

 

4Q15

 

 

131

 

 

 

68

 

 

 

68

 

 

 

34

 

Total

 

 

 

 

498

 

 

$

171

 

 

$

169

 

 

$

72

 

 

The Company’s redevelopment projects are typically substantially complete within a year of the construction commencement date.  Major redevelopments could take between 12 and 36 months to reach stabilization.  At March 31, 2015, the Company’s significant consolidated redevelopment projects were as follows (in millions):

 

Location

 

Estimated

Stabilized

Quarter

 

Estimated

Gross Cost

 

 

Cost Incurred at

March 31, 2015

 

Pasadena, California (Paseo Colorado)

 

3Q17

 

$

95

 

 

$

8

 

Long Beach, California (The Pike Outlets)

 

2Q16

 

 

70

 

 

 

23

 

Cincinnati, Ohio (Sycamore Crossing & Sycamore Plaza)

 

4Q16

 

 

30

 

 

 

1

 

Plant City, Florida (Lake Walden Square)

 

4Q15

 

 

18

 

 

 

13

 

Chester, Virginia (Bermuda Square)

 

3Q17

 

 

17

 

 

 

7

 

Bayamon, Puerto Rico (Plaza Del Sol)

 

1Q17

 

 

11

 

 

 

1

 

Total

 

 

 

$

241

 

 

$

53

 

 

For redevelopment assets completed in 2014 and in the first quarter of 2015, the assets placed in service were completed at approximately $135 cost per square foot.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Company has a number of off-balance sheet joint ventures and other unconsolidated entities with varying economic structures.  Through these interests, the Company has investments in operating properties, one development project and one management company.  Such arrangements are generally with institutional investors located throughout the United States.  The Company also had a preferred equity investment aggregating $307.6 million at March 31, 2015, with an annual interest rate of 8.5% due from its joint venture with Blackstone.

 

The Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures had aggregate outstanding indebtedness to third parties of $3.3 billion and $3.6 billion at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively (see Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk).  Such mortgages are generally non-recourse to the Company and its partners; however, certain mortgages may have recourse to the Company and its partners in certain limited situations, such as misuse of funds and material misrepresentations.  

 

33


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

In January 2015, the Company issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due February 2025. Net proceeds from the issuance were used to repay $350.0 million of debt under the Company’s unsecured term loan, $100.0 million of debt under the Company’s secured term loan and amounts outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facilities.

In April 2015, the Company amended and restated its Revolving Credit Facilities.  The Unsecured Credit Facility maturity date was extended to June 2019, with two six-month borrower options to extend upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing terms of the facility and increase their commitment level.  The PNC unsecured revolving credit facility was amended to reduce the commitment to $50 million and modify certain other terms to conform to the Unsecured Credit Facility.  Also, pricing on the Revolving Credit Facilities was reduced and set at LIBOR plus 100 basis points, a decrease of 15 basis points from the previous rate, and is determined based upon the Company’s credit ratings from Moody's and S&P.  

In addition, in April 2015, the Company entered into a new $400 million unsecured term loan with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and PNC Bank, National Association, as syndication agent.  The unsecured term loan has a maturity date of April 2017, with options upon the Company’s request, provided that new or existing lenders agree to the existing terms of the facility and increase their commitment level, to extend the maturity for up to three additional one-year periods.  Pricing on the unsecured term loan was set at LIBOR plus 110 basis points and was determined based upon the Company’s credit ratings from Moody's and S&P.  This loan was unfunded as of May 1, 2015, but it has the option to be drawn at any time over the next twelve-month period.  Proceeds from this loan are expected to be used to retire upcoming unsecured notes and secured mortgage maturities.  

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s capitalization consisted of $5.2 billion of debt, $350.0 million of preferred shares and $6.7 billion of market equity (market equity is defined as common shares and OP Units outstanding multiplied by $18.62, the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the New York Stock Exchange at March 31, 2015), resulting in a debt to total market capitalization ratio of 0.42 to 1.0, as compared to the ratio of 0.45 to 1.0 at March 31, 2014.  The closing price of the common shares on the New York Stock Exchange was $16.48 at March 31, 2014.  The Company’s total debt consisted of the following (in billions):  

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Fixed-rate debt(A)

$

4.8

 

 

$

4.9

 

Variable-rate debt

 

0.4

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

$

5.2

 

 

$

5.2

 

 

(A)

Includes $79.6 million and $631.1 million of variable-rate debt that had been effectively swapped to a fixed rate through the use of interest rate derivative contracts at March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

It is management’s strategy to have access to the capital resources necessary to manage the Company’s balance sheet, to repay upcoming maturities and to consider making prudent opportunistic investments.  Accordingly, the Company may seek to obtain funds through additional debt or equity financings and/or joint venture capital in a manner consistent with its intention to operate with a conservative debt capitalization policy and to reduce the Company’s cost of capital by maintaining an investment grade rating with Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings, Inc.  The security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, as it may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating organization.  Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.  The Company may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, which may negatively affect future ratings.

 

The Company’s credit facilities and the indentures under which the Company’s senior and subordinated unsecured indebtedness is, or may be, issued contain certain financial and operating covenants, including, among other things, debt service coverage and fixed charge coverage ratios, as well as limitations on the Company’s ability to incur secured and unsecured indebtedness, sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and engage in mergers and certain acquisitions.  Although the Company intends to operate in compliance with these covenants, if the Company were to violate these covenants, the Company may be subject to higher finance costs and fees or accelerated maturities.  In addition, certain of the Company’s credit facilities and indentures may permit the acceleration of maturity in the event certain other debt of the Company has been accelerated.  Foreclosure on mortgaged properties or an inability to refinance existing indebtedness would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

34


CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMITMENTS

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company’s 2015 debt maturities consisted of $153.0 million of unsecured notes that were repaid at maturity in May 2015 and $432.4 million of consolidated mortgage debt.  The Company’s $350 million aggregate principal amount of convertible unsecured notes have an option for the Company to repay on or after November 20, 2015, in whole or in part for cash at 100% of the principal amount of the notes and cash, common shares or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election) for the remainder.  The holders of the notes may require the Company to repurchase its notes in whole or in part on specified dates, the first of which is November 15, 2015, upon the fulfillment of certain conditions.  Further, the holders may convert their notes prior to the stated redemption dates under certain circumstances including if the closing sale price of the Company’s stock is greater than 125% of the conversion rate ($14.85 at March 31, 2015) for 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last day of the fiscal quarter.  These notes were not convertible at March 31, 2015. The Company expects to fund these obligations from public debt offerings, possible refinancing opportunities, utilization of its Revolving Credit Facilities and/or cash flow from operations.  No assurance can be provided that these obligations will be refinanced or repaid as currently anticipated.  

 

In conjunction with the development and redevelopment of shopping centers, the Company had entered into commitments with general contractors aggregating approximately $55.7 million for its consolidated properties at March 31, 2015.  These obligations, composed principally of construction contracts, are generally due in 12 to 24 months, as the related construction costs are incurred, and are expected to be financed through operating cash flow, new or existing construction loans, asset sales or revolving credit facilities.

 

At March 31, 2015, the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $36.5 million.  The Company has not recorded any obligations associated with these letters of credit, the majority of which are collateral for existing indebtedness and other obligations of the Company.

 

The Company routinely enters into contracts for the maintenance of its properties.  These contracts typically can be canceled upon 30 to 60 days’ notice without penalty.  At March 31, 2015, the Company had purchase order obligations, typically payable within one year, aggregating approximately $5.6 million related to the maintenance of its properties and general and administrative expenses.

 

 

INFLATION

 

Most of the Company’s long-term leases contain provisions designed to mitigate the adverse impact of inflation.  Such provisions include clauses enabling the Company to receive additional rental income from escalation clauses that generally increase rental rates during the terms of the leases and/or percentage rentals based on tenants’ gross sales.  Such escalations are determined by negotiation, increases in the consumer price index or similar inflation indices.  In addition, many of the Company’s leases are for terms of less than 10 years, permitting the Company to seek increased rents at market rates upon renewal.  Most of the Company’s leases require the tenants to pay their share of operating expenses, including common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and utilities, thereby reducing the Company’s exposure to increases in costs and operating expenses resulting from inflation.

 

 

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

 

The Company continues to believe there is a favorable landlord dynamic in the supply-and-demand curve for quality locations within well-positioned shopping centers.  Many retailers have aggressive store opening plans for 2015 and 2016.  Further, the Company continues to see strong demand from a broad range of retailers for its space, particularly in the off-price sector, which is a reflection of the general outlook of consumers who are demanding more value for their dollars.  This is evidenced by the continued high volume of leasing activity, which was almost three million square feet of space for new leases and renewals for the first quarter of 2015.  The Company also benefits from its real estate asset class (shopping centers), which typically has a higher return on capital expenditures, as well as a diversified tenant base, with only three tenants exceeding 3% of annualized consolidated revenues and the Company’s proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture revenues (TJX Companies at 3.5%; Walmart at 3.3% and Bed Bath & Beyond at 3.0%).  Other significant tenants include Target, Kohl’s, PetSmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ross Stores, Lowe’s and Publix, all of which have relatively strong credit ratings, remain well-capitalized and have outperformed other retail categories on a relative basis over time.  In addition, several of the Company’s big box tenants (Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, TJX Companies and Target) have been rapidly growing their omnichannel platform, creating positive sales growth.  The Company believes these tenants will continue providing it with a stable revenue base for the foreseeable future, given the long-term nature of these leases.  Moreover, the majority of the tenants in the Company’s shopping centers provide day-to-day consumer necessities with a focus toward value and convenience, versus high-priced discretionary luxury items, which the Company believes will enable many of its tenants to continue operating even in a challenging economic environment.

 

35


The retail shopping sector continues to be affected by the competitive nature of the retail business and the competition for market share, as well as general economic conditions, where stronger retailers have out-positioned some of the weaker retailers.  These shifts can force some market share away from weaker retailers, which could require them to downsize and close stores and/or declare bankruptcy.  In many cases, the loss of a weaker tenant or downsizing of space creates a value-add opportunity to re-lease space at higher rents to a stronger retailer.  Overall, the Company believes its portfolio remained stable at March 31, 2015, as evidenced by the increase in the occupancy rate as further described below.  However, there can be no assurance that the loss of a tenant or down-sizing of space will not adversely affect the Company (see Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended).

 

Historically, the Company’s portfolio has performed consistently throughout many economic cycles, including downward cycles.  Broadly speaking, national retail sales have grown since World War II, including during several recessions and housing slowdowns.  In the past, the Company has not experienced significant volatility in its long-term portfolio occupancy rate.  The Company has experienced downward cycles before and has made the necessary adjustments to leasing and development strategies to accommodate the changes in the operating environment and mitigate risk.  More importantly, the quality of the property revenue stream is high and consistent, as it is generally derived from retailers with good credit profiles under long-term leases, with very little reliance on overage rents generated by tenant sales performance.  

 

The Company believes that the quality of its shopping center portfolio is strong, as evidenced by the high historical occupancy rates, which have generally ranged from 92% to 96% since the Company’s initial public offering in 1993.  The shopping center portfolio occupancy was 93.2% at March 31, 2015, as compared to 92.6% at March 31, 2014.  The Company continues to sign new leases at rental rates that have reflected consistent annual growth.  

 

The total portfolio average annualized base rent per occupied square foot was $14.02 at March 31, 2015, as compared to $13.91 at December 31, 2014, and $13.44 at March 31, 2014.  The increase primarily was due to the Company’s strategic portfolio realignment achieved through the recycling of capital from the sale of lower quality assets into the acquisition of Prime Assets with higher growth potential, as well as continued lease up and renewal of the existing portfolio at positive rental spreads.  Moreover, the Company has been able to achieve these results without significant capital investment in tenant improvements or leasing commissions.  The weighted-average cost of tenant improvements and lease commissions estimated to be incurred over the expected lease term for new leases executed during the first quarter of 2015 was approximately $6.14 per rentable square foot.  The Company generally does not expend a significant amount of capital on lease renewals.  The Company is very conscious of and sensitive to the risks posed by the economy, but believes that the position of its portfolio and the general diversity and credit quality of its tenant base should enable it to successfully navigate through challenging economic times.

 

 

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

New Accounting Standards are more fully described in Note 1, “Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation,” of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included herein.

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.  Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the condensed consolidated financial statements, including trends that might appear, should not be taken as indicative of future operations.  The Company considers portions of this information to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, with respect to the Company’s expectations for future periods.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to acquisitions (including any related pro forma financial information) and other business development activities, future capital expenditures, financing sources and availability and the effects of environmental and other regulations.  Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.  For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact should be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  Without limiting the foregoing, the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “seeks,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Readers should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and that could materially affect the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements.  For additional factors that could cause the results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as amended.

36


 

Factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

·

The Company is subject to general risks affecting the real estate industry, including the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues, and any economic downturn may adversely affect the ability of the Company’s tenants, or new tenants, to enter into new leases or the ability of the Company’s existing tenants to renew their leases at rates at least as favorable as their current rates;

 

·

The Company could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where its properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions;

 

·

The Company may fail to anticipate the effects on its properties of changes in consumer buying practices, including sales over the Internet and the resulting retailing practices and space needs of its tenants, or a general downturn in its tenants’ businesses, which may cause tenants to close stores or default in payment of rent;

 

·

The Company is subject to competition for tenants from other owners of retail properties, and its tenants are subject to competition from other retailers and methods of distribution.  The Company is dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of its tenants, in particular its major tenants, and could be adversely affected by the bankruptcy of those tenants;

 

·

The Company relies on major tenants, which makes it vulnerable to changes in the business and financial condition of, or demand for its space by, such tenants;

 

·

The Company may not realize the intended benefits of acquisition or merger transactions. The acquired assets may not perform as well as the Company anticipated, or the Company may not successfully integrate the assets and realize improvements in occupancy and operating results.  The acquisition of certain assets may subject the Company to liabilities, including environmental liabilities;

 

·

The Company may fail to identify, acquire, construct or develop additional properties that produce a desired yield on invested capital, or may fail to effectively integrate acquisitions of properties or portfolios of properties.  In addition, the Company may be limited in its acquisition opportunities due to competition, the inability to obtain financing on reasonable terms or any financing at all, and other factors;

 

·

The Company may fail to dispose of properties on favorable terms.  In addition, real estate investments can be illiquid, particularly as prospective buyers may experience increased costs of financing or difficulties obtaining financing, and could limit the Company’s ability to promptly make changes to its portfolio to respond to economic and other conditions;

 

·

The Company may abandon a development opportunity after expending resources if it determines that the development opportunity is not feasible due to a variety of factors, including a lack of availability of construction financing on reasonable terms, the impact of the economic environment on prospective tenants’ ability to enter into new leases or pay contractual rent, or the inability of the Company to obtain all necessary zoning and other required governmental permits and authorizations;

 

·

The Company may not complete development projects on schedule as a result of various factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, such as weather, labor conditions, governmental approvals, material shortages or general economic downturn, resulting in limited availability of capital, increased debt service expense and construction costs and decreases in revenue;

 

·

The Company’s financial condition may be affected by required debt service payments, the risk of default and restrictions on its ability to incur additional debt or to enter into certain transactions under its credit facilities and other documents governing its debt obligations.  In addition, the Company may encounter difficulties in obtaining permanent financing or refinancing existing debt.  Borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facilities are subject to certain representations and warranties and customary events of default, including any event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial condition;

 

·

Changes in interest rates could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common shares, as well as its performance and cash flow;

37


 

·

Debt and/or equity financing necessary for the Company to continue to grow and operate its business may not be available or may not be available on favorable terms;

 

·

Disruptions in the financial markets could affect the Company’s ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms and have other adverse effects on the Company and the market price of the Company’s common shares;

 

·

The Company is subject to complex regulations related to its status as a REIT and would be adversely affected if it failed to qualify as a REIT;

 

·

The Company must make distributions to shareholders to continue to qualify as a REIT, and if the Company must borrow funds to make distributions, those borrowings may not be available on favorable terms or at all;

 

·

Joint venture investments may involve risks not otherwise present for investments made solely by the Company, including the possibility that a partner or co-venturer may become bankrupt, may at any time have interests or goals different from those of the Company and may take action contrary to the Company’s instructions, requests, policies or objectives, including the Company’s policy with respect to maintaining its qualification as a REIT.  In addition, a partner or co-venturer may not have access to sufficient capital to satisfy its funding obligations to the joint venture.  The partner could cause a default under the joint venture loan for reasons outside the Company’s control.  Furthermore, the Company could be required to reduce the carrying value of its equity method investments if a loss in the carrying value of the investment is other than temporary;

 

·

The Company’s decision to dispose of real estate assets, including land held for development and construction in progress, would change the holding period assumption in the undiscounted cash flow impairment analyses, which could result in material impairment losses and adversely affect the Company’s financial results;

 

·

The outcome of pending or future litigation, including litigation with tenants or joint venture partners, may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition;

 

·

The Company may not realize anticipated returns from its real estate assets outside the contiguous United States, which may carry risks in addition to those the Company faces with its domestic properties and operations.  To the extent the Company pursues opportunities that may subject the Company to different or greater risks than those associated with its domestic operations, including cultural and consumer differences and differences in applicable laws and political and economic environments, these risks could significantly increase and adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition.  The Company owns significant assets in Puerto Rico;

 

·

The Company is subject to potential environmental liabilities;

 

·

The Company may incur losses that are uninsured or exceed policy coverage due to its liability for certain injuries to persons, property or the environment occurring on its properties and

 

·

The Company could incur additional expenses to comply with or respond to claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or otherwise be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, including changes in environmental, zoning, tax and other regulations.

 

38


ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company’s primary market risk exposure is interest rate risk.  The Company’s debt, excluding unconsolidated joint venture debt, is summarized as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

Amount

(Millions)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Maturity

(Years)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Interest

Rate

 

 

Percentage

of Total

 

 

Amount

(Millions)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Maturity

(Years)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Interest

Rate

 

 

Percentage

of Total

 

Fixed-Rate Debt (A)

$

4,841.9

 

 

 

4.4

 

 

 

5.1

%

 

 

92.3

%

 

$

4,806.5

 

 

 

3.9

 

 

 

5.1

%

 

 

91.8

%

Variable-Rate Debt (A)

$

405.2

 

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

1.5

%

 

 

7.7

%

 

$

428.2

 

 

 

2.9

 

 

 

1.5

%

 

 

8.2

%

 

(A)

Adjusted to reflect the $79.6 million and $530.0 million of variable-rate debt that LIBOR was swapped to a fixed rate of 2.8% and 1.3% at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

The Company’s unconsolidated joint ventures’ indebtedness is summarized as follows:

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

Joint

Venture

Debt

(Millions)

 

 

Company's

Proportionate

Share

(Millions)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Maturity

Years

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Interest

Rate

 

 

Joint

Venture

Debt

(Millions)

 

 

Company's

Proportionate

Share

(Millions)

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Maturity

Years

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Interest

Rate

 

Fixed-Rate Debt (A)

$

2,082.5

 

 

$

352.9

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

 

5.3

%

 

$

2,215.4

 

 

$

379.5

 

 

 

3.4

 

 

 

5.3

%

Variable-Rate Debt (A)

$

1,199.6

 

 

$

101.3

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

2.0

%

 

$

1,337.4

 

 

$

124.0

 

 

 

1.9

 

 

 

3.0

%

 

(A)

Adjusted to reflect the $42.0 million of variable-rate debt ($2.1 million at the Company’s proportionate share) that LIBOR was swapped to a fixed rate of 1.9% at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

 

The Company intends to use retained cash flow, proceeds from asset sales, equity and debt financing and variable-rate indebtedness available under its Revolving Credit Facilities to repay indebtedness and fund capital expenditures of the Company’s shopping centers.  Thus, to the extent the Company incurs additional variable-rate indebtedness, its exposure to increases in interest rates in an inflationary period could increase.  The Company does not believe, however, that increases in interest expense as a result of inflation will significantly impact the Company’s distributable cash flow.

 

The interest rate risk on a portion of the Company’s and its unconsolidated joint ventures’ variable-rate debt described above has been mitigated through the use of interest rate swap agreements (the “Swaps”) with major financial institutions.  At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the interest rate on the Company’s $79.6 million and $530.0 million, respectively, consolidated floating rate debt was swapped to fixed rates.  At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the interest rate on $42.0 million of unconsolidated joint venture floating rate debt (of which $2.1 million is the Company’s proportionate share) was swapped to fixed rates.  The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the Swaps.  The Company believes it mitigates its credit risk by entering into Swaps with major financial institutions.

 

The carrying value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt is adjusted to include the $79.6 million and $530.0 million of variable-rate debt that was swapped to a fixed rate at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  The fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt is adjusted to (i) include the Swaps reflected in the carrying value and (ii) include the Company’s proportionate share of the joint venture fixed-rate debt.  An estimate of the effect of a 100 basis-point increase at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is summarized as follows (in millions):

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

Carrying

Value

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

100 Basis-Point

Increase in

Market Interest

Rate

 

 

 

Carrying

Value

 

 

Fair

Value

 

 

100 Basis-Point

Increase in

Market Interest

Rate

 

 

Company's fixed-rate debt

$

4,841.9

 

 

$

5,166.9

 

(A)

$

4,981.9

 

(B)

 

$

4,806.5

 

 

$

5,108.4

 

(A)

$

4,944.7

 

(B)

Company's proportionate share of

   joint venture fixed-rate debt

$

352.9

 

 

$

373.9

 

 

$

363.7

 

 

 

$

379.5

 

 

$

398.2

 

 

$

386.6

 

 

 

(A)

Includes the fair value of Swaps, which was a liability of $3.8 million and $4.3 million, net, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

(B)

Includes the fair value of Swaps, which was a liability of $1.9 million at March 31, 2015 and an asset of $8.8 million, net, at December 31, 2014.

39


 

The sensitivity to changes in interest rates of the Company’s fixed-rate debt was determined using a valuation model based upon factors that measure the net present value of such obligations that arise from the hypothetical estimate as discussed above.

 

Further, a 100 basis-point increase in short-term market interest rates on variable-rate debt at March 31, 2015, would result in an increase in interest expense of approximately $1.0 million for the Company and $0.3 million representing the Company’s proportionate share of the joint ventures’ interest expense relating to variable-rate debt outstanding for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015.  The estimated increase in interest expense for the year does not give effect to possible changes in the daily balance of the Company’s or joint ventures’ outstanding variable-rate debt.

 

The Company and its joint ventures intend to continually monitor and actively manage interest costs on their variable-rate debt portfolio and may enter into swap positions based on market fluctuations.  In addition, the Company believes it has the ability to obtain funds through additional equity and/or debt offerings and joint venture capital.  Accordingly, the cost of obtaining such protection agreements in relation to the Company’s access to capital markets will continue to be evaluated.  The Company has not entered, and does not plan to enter, into any derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  As of March 31, 2015, the Company had no other material exposure to market risk.

 

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Based on their evaluation as required by Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and were effective as of the end of such period to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

40


 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal proceedings, which, taken together, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company.  The Company is also subject to a variety of legal actions for personal injury or property damage arising in the ordinary course of its business, most of which are covered by insurance.  While the resolution of all matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final outcome of such legal proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

 

ITEM  1A.

RISK FACTORS

None.

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

 

(a)

 

 

(b)

 

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased(1)

 

 

Average

Price Paid

per Share

 

 

Total Number

of Shares Purchased

as Part of

Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

 

Maximum Number

(or Approximate

Dollar Value) of

Shares that May Yet

be Purchased Under

the Plans or Programs

(Millions)

Jan 131, 2015

 

49,846

 

 

$

19.55

 

 

 

February 128, 2015

 

92,965

 

 

 

19.31

 

 

 

March 131, 2015

 

2,090

 

 

 

18.95

 

 

 

Total

 

144,901

 

 

$

19.39

 

 

 

 

(1)

Consists of common shares surrendered or deemed surrendered to the Company to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting and/or exercise of awards under the Company’s equity-based compensation plans.

 

ITEM  3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

 

ITEM  4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM  5.

OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

 

41


ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

4.1

 

Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 2015, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor to National City Bank))

 

 

 

10.1

 

Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated February 10, 2015, by and between DDR Corp.

and David J. Oakes

 

 

 

10.2

 

Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated February 27, 2015, by and between DDR Corp.

and Christa A. Vesy

 

 

 

10.3

 

Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 2015, by and between DDR Corp. and Luke J. Petherbridge

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 1

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 1

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document 2

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 2

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 2

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document 2

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document 2

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document 2

1

Pursuant to SEC Release No. 34-4751, these exhibits are deemed to accompany this report and are not “filed” as part of this report.

2

Submitted electronically herewith.

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, (iv) Consolidated Statement of Equity for the Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2015, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

 

42


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

DDR CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Christa A. Vesy

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Christa A. Vesy

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President
and Chief Accounting Officer
(Authorized Officer)

Date: May 8, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.
Under Reg. S-K
Item 601

  

Form 10-Q
Exhibit No.

  

Description

  

Filed Herewith or
Incorporated Herein by
Reference

4

 

4.1

 

Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 2015, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor to National City Bank))

 

Current Report on Form 8-K (Filed with the SEC on January 22, 2015; File No. 001-11690)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

10.1

 

Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated February 10, 2015, by and between DDR Corp. and David J. Oakes

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

10.2

 

Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated February 27, 2015, by and between DDR Corp. and Christa A. Vesy

 

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

10.3

 

Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 2015, by and between DDR Corp. and Luke J. Petherbridge

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31

  

31.1

  

Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

  

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

31

  

31.2

  

Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

  

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

32

  

32.1

  

Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

32

  

32.2

  

Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of this report pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  

Filed herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.INS

  

XBRL Instance Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.SCH

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.CAL

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.DEF

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.LAB

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith

 

 

 

 

101

  

101.PRE

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

  

Submitted electronically herewith